Frances Marquardt Holman

Frances (Marquardt) Holman, 93, died at Woodland Terrace Senior Living in Bridgman, Michigan on February 24, 2018 after a 15 year journey with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born on December 30, 1924 in New London, CT to Arthur P. and Mary (Cooper) Marquardt and spent a happy childhood in Poquonnock Bridge village of Groton, the oldest of seven siblings. She graduated from Robert E. Fitch High School.  She married her childhood sweetheart, Clifton D. Holman, Jr, on June 20, 1945 at the Poquonnock Bridge Baptist Church.  After the war they moved to Boston, where she worked as a typist at Dunn and Bradstreet. They bought their first home in Westwood, MA. They had one daughter, Gail. They built their dream house on the shore of Highland Lake in Norfolk, MA in 1963.  Frances, a stay-at-home mom, who proudly never had a driver’s license, was a very industrious busy woman.  She could do anything and everything.  Her many talents included, making clothing for her family, painting the house, mowing the lawn, wallpapering, making curtains, quilting, upholstery and restoring furniture, knitting, rug hooking and braiding, and many types of needlework.  She kept the books for her husband’s civil engineering business. She served as a library trustee for over 35 years for the Norfolk Public LIbrary. She was a Girl Scout for over 50 years.  For many years, she served the Federated Church of Norfolk as an active member of the “Ivy Group.” She was always in motion. After Clifton died in 2002 she spent several years in the happy companionship of her sister-in-law, Pauline Hadley. Her home was a place where family was always welcome to come and stay. She is survived by her daughter Gail Holman, dear friend, Melissa Payne, and granddaughter Abigail Rekas; her sisters Marie (Robert) Holman, Jane Imdahl and brother Richard (May) Marquardt and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 4, 2018 at 2:00 PM  at Groton Congregational Church, 162 Monument St., Groton CT.  Burial will be held in the spring at Smith Lake Cemetery in Poquonnock Bridge.Donations in Fran’s memory can be made to Come and See Farm, 1801 Rocky Weed Rd. Berrien Springs, MI 49103, or the Norfolk Public Library, 139 Main St., Norfolk, MA 02056.