Vera Holy

Vera Elaine Holy, age 84 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2016 with her family gathered by her side at Woodland Terrace of Longmeadow in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on August 14, 1931 in Baroda Township, Michigan to Theadore and Agnes (Till) Hauch. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in this area all of her life. As a young woman, she was employed at the former Niles plants of Simplicity Pattern Company and General Cable, and at the former Niles J. C. Penney and Montgomery Wards department stores before she began a career with the former Old Kent Bank (now 5/3).

Vera was a member of the Portage Road General Baptist Church in Niles. She was also a member of the Four Flags Snowmobile Club, and volunteered with the Women’s Auxiliary to the Niles Township Fire Department. She enjoyed travelling, having visited much of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and was at home both on cruise ships and at campgrounds. She also enjoyed golfing, and spending summers at Bitely, Michigan and winters in Frostproof, Florida. Her family was always her greatest joy, and she always made time for the grandchildren’s sporting events.

On July 30, 1949 in the parsonage of the First Methodist Church she married Robert A. Holy with whom she celebrated the Fifty-seventh anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on April 23, 2007. They were also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Lisa Hessey on December 10, 1996, a son-in-law, Gary Zache in 1984, and Vera’s brother, Dale Hauch.

Surviving family includes her children, Debra (& Tom) Hessey of Niles, Chris (& Frelen Gowen) Zache of Niles, and Mike (& Kathy) Holy of Buchanan, Michigan; grandchildren Deanna (& Joe) Rudell, Brian (& Michelle) Zache, Brad (& Jenna) Zache, Bruce (& Erica) Zache, Angie (& Wayne Wollenzien) Holy, Ryan (& Andrea) Holy, Aaron (& Tara) Holy, and Cory Gowen; great-grandchildren Chase Rudell, Zachary, Ella, Courtney, Breslyn Jackson, Raegan, Maddison, and Bryce Zache, and Ava, Adelyn, and Abram Holy; and Vera’s sister, Delores Roberts of California and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Vera Holy will be at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at the Portage Road General Baptist Church with Pastor Lonnie Rhodes of the church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Vera may be made to the Portage Road General Baptist Church, 1765 Portage Road, Niles, MI 49120; or to the Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan, Great Lakes Chapter, 564 South Main Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.