Cynthia Holly

Cynthia Rockwood (Phillips) Holly, age 95 of Waupaca and Long Lake, Waushara County, formerly of Mequon, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 5, 2015 at Bethany Pines Assisted Living in Waupaca. She was born on June 16, 1919 in Duluth, Minnesota, daughter of the late Tilden and Ethel (Rockwood) Phillips. Cynthia married Dr. Roy Groves Holly on December 19, 1942. He preceded her in death on November 4, 2005.

Cynthia Holly will be remembered by family and friends as a vibrant, energetic woman with many talents and interests. When she and Roy lived in Milwaukee, she was not only an avid curler but also a founding member of the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts in Cedarburg. A passionate lover of art, she worked as a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum and traveled often with friends to collections in the United States and Europe. She was co-founder (with Roy Holly) of the Holly History Center in Waupaca, a member of the Long Lake Association in Saxeville, and a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Waupaca. A life-long birder and master gardener, she was also an accomplished quilter and an excellent cook. Her homes were always decorated with colorful fabrics and art, and she loved nothing more than to welcome friends and family into the warmth she created there.

She is survived by three children, Phil (Polly) Holly, Wild Rose, Carol (Alvin Handelman) Holly, Northfield, MN and Hugh (Celeste) Holly, Prescott, AZ; daughter in law, Karen Holly, Waupaca; nine grandchildren, Sarah (Greg Riley) Holly, Nathan (Heidi) Holly, Matt Handelman, T.J. (Jim Talsma) Holly, Anna (fiancé, Ryan Dolan) Holly, Rachael Holly, Jacob Holly, Missie (Chan) Hansen and Jeff (Paula) Berg; 13 great grandchildren, Nicholas, Levi, Brady and Lauren Holly, Myra Holly, Parker, Taylor and Allison Riley, Jack, Sam and Max Hansen, Addison and Lochlan Berg; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends. Cynthia was preceded in death by her two brothers, Chelsea and John Phillips.

A memorial service for Cynthia will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 415 S. Main St., Waupaca. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2:00 p.m. until the hour of service at the church. Inurnment will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Waupaca. Memorials would be appreciated to the Holly History Center of Waupaca or Wisconsin Museum of Quilts in Cedarburg.

Please take a moment to view the online guestbook. Send your condolences or share a memory of Cynthia with her family & friends.