Marianne A. Holland

MARIANNE A. HOLLAND (née Allen), loving mother, grandmother and friend, passed away on January 5, 2026, at the age of 93.

Marianne was born in Phoenix, Arizona on February 28, 1932, to the late Frederick J. Allen and Mary M. Allen. She spent her youth in her beloved sunshine state of Georgia, where she cultivated her charming, lifelong Southern drawl and gracious Southern hospitality. She attended Sullins College, a women’s Methodist junior college in Bristol, Virginia. While attending Sullins, she was invited on a blind date with a handsome Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) cadet. She became the beloved wife of said cadet, the late Gilmer G. Holland Jr., with whom she shared a devoted 61-year marriage and a lifetime of memories.

The happy couple spent their married lives north of the Mason-Dixon Line in the Cleveland suburb of Sagamore Hills, where they raised three children and remained for the entirety of their lives. Among Marianne’s achievements, she proudly served for many years as a Girl Scout leader, mentoring young girls through engagement, service, and leadership. She also worked for Nordonia Hills City Schools as a librarian at Nordonia Middle School and Rushwood Elementary, where she fostered a love of reading and learning for generations of students. Her mannerly Southern charm and kindness left a lasting impact on all who knew her.

Marianne was a loving and devoted mother to Rebecca A. Holland (Bill Hospodor), Gilmer A. Holland, and Elizabeth Holland-Koch (Keith). She was a cherished grandmother to Brad, Aaron, and Colin Serbu; Ted (Hannah) and Alex Cunningham; and Will (Savannah) and Bailey Hospodor; and a treasured great-grandmother to Aliyah and Lucas Serbu, and Lane Cunningham. She was a dear sister-in-law to Jane (Holland) Prince, and a beloved cousin to James D.  Allen, Susan G. Allen and Anne H. Brinkley. 

The family suggests memorial contributions in Marianne’s name to the United Methodist Church of Macedonia, 1280 E. Aurora Rd., Macedonia, OH 44056.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 18th at the United Methodist Church of Macedonia. 

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