Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Ontario for funeral details
On January 16, 2025, Nell Irene Holtom (nee MacConnell), passed away after a long life, well lived, well loved, and blessed by the large and extended family she created. We are all deeply saddened by her departure, but celebrate her wonderful life and the woman she was.
Nell was a sickly child, predicted to not live to 30. How wrong she proved the experts. At 97 years and 10 months she outlived three husbands: Manson Bradley, Joseph Holtom and Kenneth Ballard. She outlived her mother, Nell Noreen MacConnell. And she outlived her four dearly loved sisters: Jean, Mary, Tenic, Peggy, and her dear brother Brian. She was the last.
Nell didn’t have a mean bone in her body. A strong cuss word from her would be “darn”. She accepted whatever life threw at her with dignity and good natured determination. She believed “what will be will be”, but she was no pushover. Her favourite advice to family was “never quit”, and “just keep moving”, both of which she followed to the end, until moving became impossible, and quitting was all that was left. She entered the Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay on January 1, 2025.
Nell’s life wasn’t without adversity. A child of the Great Depression, at age eighteen she married Manson Bradley, an American who came north to join the RCAF in WWII. After living twelve years in the USA, Nell fled back to Canada with her three year old son, Jim, and her 22 month old daughter, Karen. She slept on a couch in her mother’s kitchen, finished Grade 13 by correspondence, and then went to Teachers College in Peterborough for a year to obtain a Teacher’s Certificate. Nell’s first teaching job was at Leslie Frost Public School. With her income she became independent, rented an apartment, and worked on raising her children, Jim and Karen.
In 1963, Nell married Joseph Holtom, then mayor of Lindsay, who had lost his wife, Ruth, the mother of this two children, John and Susan. The next years weren’t easy, as she pulled together two strong willed independent families. She became the mother that John and Susan had lost, the wife that Joe needed, and at one time became his partner in a new venture – Holtom Insurance.
On Christmas Day 1989, Nell’s life was again turned upside down when Joe suffered a stroke. He was paralyzed on his right side, unable to talk. Nell cared for Joe night and day at home, until his death six years later in January 1996. It was very difficult for her but she never complained.
Two years later Nell went on vacation in Florida, where she met Ken Ballard, who would become her third and last husband. Nell eventually sold the house in Lindsay, and moved to be with Ken in Carleton Place. How wonderful this was for Jim, Lorrie and their kids to be able to frequently visit. But Ken had a stroke in August of 2014, leaving him in care facilities while Nell lived alone in the country house. In 2016 she moved back to Lindsay into her new condo at 3 Heritage Way. After six more years of independent living, Nell moved to Adelaide Place as her final home.
Nell will be forever missed by her children and their spouses: John Holtom (Rose), Susan Holtom, Karen Ford (Ron), Jim Holtom (Nun), by Lorrie, by her grandchildren: Adam Holtom, Kerry Holtom, David Cesario (Nadya), Lisa Cesario (Tim), Jamie Holtom (Jessica), Lesley Hall (Mike) and by her great grandchildren: Sienna Rose, Dontae, Bishop, Maya, Leo, Anthony, River and Maeve. She will also be missed by Ken Ballard’s family: Clyde Ballard (Louise), Kelly Barclay (Peter), Cheryl Lally (Del), and their kids: Lisa (Codey), Brenda (Chris), Jamie (Aaron), Kyle and Chris.
Nell was always on the go. She had boundless energy. If she didn’t have something to do, she would do jigsaw puzzles or Sudoku or read a novel, often all three in succession. She loved beating her grandkids in Spite and Malice or cribbage. She was a lifelong knitter, even taking her knitting with her on winter vacations. She was a golfer, curler (past Ladies President of the Lindsay Curling Club), bridge player, patron of the Academy Theatre, Federal Returning Officer, part time bookkeeper and for 83 years a member of Cambridge Street United Church. She loved baking pies and cookies. Her Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter feasts would leave all of us stuffed and happy. She was also a skilled driver until age 94 when she surrendered her driving license after a scare. She disliked wind. Nell hated wind. Her favourite place was the cottage at Pleasant Point. If there was a sunset, Nell would be found sitting in the porch out of the wind, where she would admire the sunset and speak of its beauty.
Nell was a kind, generous, open-hearted woman who loved life and lived it with enthusiasm. She was relentlessly optimistic. When asked why, she would say “this is my life and I’m going to make the best of it”. And that’s what she did!
She inspired us all, and always will. Rest in Peace, Mom.
The family would especially like to thank the staff and PSWs at Adelaide Place who provided such excellent care and support for Nell in her final years. She felt very much at home there. We would also like to thank the staff at Ross Memorial Hospital who cared for her and helped her on her final journey.
Visitation will be in the sanctuary of Cambridge Street United Church, Lindsay, on Friday, January 24 from 1:00pm until time of the service in the Church at 2:00 pm. A reception will take place after the service at Celebrations on Lindsay Street North. The family will go to the Internment at Riverside Cemetery before returning to Celebrations.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Nell’s name to a charity that makes you happy. That’s what she would like.
Thursday January 16 2025
Death notice for the town of: Lindsay, Province: Ontario
death notice Nell Holtom Thursday January 16 2025
obituaries notice Nell Holtom Thursday January 16 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Nell Holtom Thursday January 16 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
