Longtime Alaska resident Holly "Ann" (Zevenbergen) Hollis, 88, died September 20, 2004, at a long-term care home in Wasilla.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. October 5, at First Presbyterian Church in Wasilla.
Mrs. Hollis was born January 14, 1916 in Holland. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was 5 years old, settling in South Dakota. They later moved to Washington state. As a young woman she moved to Alaska and met Tom, the man who would become her husband. They met at the University of Alaska, where they both were students. The were married February 21, 1948.
She and her husband and daughter homesteaded on the Kenai Peninsula in the early 1960's, and in 1979 the family moved to the valley.
Her family wrote: "Education was always an important aspect in Holly's life. In her late 60's, she was determined to get educated. In a six year period, She earned her GED, Bachelor of Science degree and a master's degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Holly always wanted to have an outlet for helping people. Armed with her degree, she became part of an organization called "Focus 2000." She helped people over age 55 to get back into the work force or enter it for the first time. Later she received an appointment by the governor of Alaska to serve on the Older Alaskan Commission. In 1995, she was one of six members of the commission asked to attend the Conference on Aging in Wahington, D. C.
"She was a very special woman who touched the lives of many people. She has left her mark on the world and, in so doing, has left it a better place."
In addition to her volunteer work and commission duties, Mrs. Hollis was active in Beta Sigma Phi, Pioneers of Alaska and Wasilla Senior Center.
She is survived by her husband, Tom; daughters, Phillis Piotto of Mount Vernon, Washington, and Sandra Underwood of Vancouver, Washington; son-in-law, Robert Underwood; grandchildren, Molly Underwood, Peter Piotto, Annamaria Piotto and Sandra Wack; two great-grandchildren, Samatha Wack and Libby Piotto; brother, Tony Zevenbergen; and several sisters-in-law.
She was preceded in death by her parents and several brothers and sisters.
~~Obituary printed in Wasilla Newpaper~~