Frances Winnifred Holland
Oct06 1924-May22 2021
Fran died peacefully in the extraordinary care of 2nd floor complex care , McCall Centre for continuing care, Etobicoke. Fran was a resident of McCall since Sept 2016, and her family is extremely grateful to the staff for their kind and compassionate care.
Born in her grandparents home Harvey St Orillia, to her loving parents Bert and Mary Hinton, Fran was the first of 3 children.As a young girl from New Toronto, Fran enjoyed summers in Orillia with her grandparents and developed a lifelong affection for Guardian Angels Church. Fran always loved Orillia , referring to it as “ a little bit of heaven”.
Frances was an athletic teenager, enjoying sports, and in particular cycling .
She began her career at the Bell after graduating from high school, and later in the war years worked at the munitions plant, Lakeshore and Dixie Rd.
Postwar she met Wilfred , the love of her life and they were married in 1949. Their daughter Barbara was followed by son Michael.Together they established WJ Holland Custom Upholstery. Fran was a vital part of the behind the scenes effort. They moved to their dream home,Crozier Court in 1957.
Fran enjoyed volunteering which led to a busy life outside the house. She was a Cancer Society volunteer for close to 60 years and honoured many times. In addition she volunteered with Canadian Heart and Stroke Association, and at her beloved St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church she was an active CWL member , also for 60 years taking on many leadership roles.
Fran and Will built their beloved cottage on Lake Couchiching in 1959 and always shared it with their family and friends.
Aside from sports in her younger days, Fran maintained her competitive spirit and was an avid bowler and bridge player. She had a secret passion for golf and an enviable drive for which she once won an award, to Wilfred’s admiration. Fran also had “ a need for speed”, and the faster the boat she was in or was driving, the better! In fact at the cottage could be spotted roaring down the lake at full throttle, music blaring!
Family and friends will all remember Fran as an avid photographer, forever camera in her hand , posing people and capturing moments.
After Wilf passed, Fran moved to Chartwell Robert Speck, Mississauga in 2012, and enjoyed every aspect of life there.. She was early and had a front row seat for every activity.Meals were from a menu and served by uniformed staff , at tables set with linen tablecloths. Merchants came to the property with their wares and she could still shop!There was a hairdresser on site for her weekly style, and Bingo three times a week! She got to dress up and wear as much jewellery as she wanted! Not home, and not the cottage, but pretty darn pleasing!
Fran and Wilf were proud of their four grandchildren, each with a unique memory of their grandmother!
Tim- life at the cottage and occasionally catching grandma and grandpa being affectionate
Brian-Grandma’s red lipstick and the marks she would leave on people from it!
Laura- Grandma and her camera!Whenever she hosted family get togethers she was always sure to commemorate each one with a picture. You’d never know she was there though, as she’d swat away all amateur photographers and insist on taking all the photos herself!
Lisa- Grandma’s purse! She had an entire collection and a special one for every event! Most memorable was her Casino purse at the cottage!
She was also proud Great Grandmother, affectionately known as GG to 5 great grandchildren
Linnea and Wilfred. (Tim ), Annabelle and James (Brian) , Ella Quinn (Laura)
Frances was predeceased by her brother Leonard Paul (2017) and sister Margaret (2018)
She had a rich lifelong relationship with her many friends , and family of brothers in law and sisters in law, and many nieces and nephews and their children who knew Aunt Fran for presenting a tough exterior but having a soft interior.
A full life well lived!
Fran will be missed by Barbara and Ed, Michael and BJ and their families;Tim &Peggy, Brian & Stephanie, Laura & Mat, Lisa & Will
Due to Covid restrictions, the service is a private graveside burial, St Mary’s Cemetery. Anyone wishing to commemorate Fran’s life, a donation to The Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Frances Winnifred Holland Saturday May 22nd 2021..
skinner and middlebrook funeral home
Death notice for the town of: Mississauga, Province: Ontario