Mary Ann Holland

Mary Ann Holland, was born in 1949 in Denver, Colorado and died at home on September 29, 2024 in Albuquerque, NM. She was raised in the Catholic faith by loving parents Frank and Rosemary Holland. Faith and family remained the foundation of her life. Throughout her life Mary Ann enjoyed working with people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures. A welcoming presence, she enabled others to recognize their own strengths and talents.

Mary Ann graduated from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas in 1974. She spent three years as an elementary teacher at St. Mary’s School in Marfa, Texas and as summer Head Start Director.

She then moved to Las Cruces where she worked as Youth Ministry Coordinator for the diocese of El Paso for 3 years.

She moved to Seattle in 1980. She obtained two Masters degrees from Seattle University, the first in Religious Education and the second years later, a Masters of Education in Counseling. In Seattle, she worked with parish teams at St. James Cathedral and St Francis Assisi in Seahurst. Her last 5 years in Seattle she worked as a Campus Minister at Seattle University.

In 1994, Mary Ann returned to New Mexico to help care for her father in Ojo Sarco. Upon her return, she worked at St. Anthony Parish in Dixon, and greatly enjoyed being among the people of New Mexico again.

In 1996, she became Director of Catechetical Support with the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. She traveled extensively to parishes throughout NM training volunteer teachers of religious education.

Mary Ann always found fulfillment in her work, none more so than her final job teaching pre-K at Holy Ghost School in Albuquerque. She appreciated the uniqueness of each child and was skilled at guiding their development.

She retired after 11 years of teaching pre-K. She remained involved and invested in community through Oasis tutoring, home visits, volunteering and faithful and inspired letter writing.

She lived her life joyfully and generously in service to others.

She is predeceased by her parents and brothers George, Michael, Philip, Thomas and brother-in-law Terry Cordes. Mary Ann is survived by her brother Richard of Ojo Sarco, sister Rosemary of Albuquerque, sister Mary Cordes of Chapala, Mexico, nephew David Cordes and wife Jamie Cordes of Castle Rock, CO. and Zoe Holland sister-in-law of Lincoln, NE.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Annunciation House or the charity of your choice. 

Funeral Mass will be October 22 at 9 am at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande. On Friday October 25 at 10:30 in the morning a public rosary will be recited for Mary Ann, followed by a gathering with refreshments. The rosary will be led by Los Hermanos (Penitentes) in their morada (chapel) next to the church in the village of Las Trampas. Burial in the Ojo Sarco cemetery will be family only.