Joan Frances Holland

July 30, 1931 – February 16, 2022

Joan Frances Holland, 90, of Springfield, Illinois (formerly Galesburg, Illinois) passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 surrounded by family.

Joan was born July 30, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois to Edward and Marie Curley. She graduated from Little Company of Mary Hospital School of Nursing and moved to Galesburg in 1958. After staying home for many years with her children, she went back to work in nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital as an Obstetrics and Gynecology nurse and rapidly moved to Director of the department. She was passionate about neo-natal care and served on many task forces and committees. After touching many families in this role, she retired in 1997.

She loved to travel and especially enjoyed going on cruises with her brother Dan and sister-in-law Barb. In retirement, she took many trips around the area, to Chicago and her favorite locations in WI, Twin Lakes and Lake Geneva with her dear friends from Galesburg – “the hotties!” One extraordinary trip she took was to Ireland with her daughter Mary.

As a devout Catholic, her faith defined her character. When her children were young, she was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Church and was proud to have sent all 8 of them to IHM and Costa Catholic Schools. In her later years, Joan joined Corpus Christi Parish.

Joan is survived by her children John and wife Teri Holland, Michael and wife Melissa Holland, Edward and wife Lynette Holland, Daniel Holland, David and wife Tamra Holland, Mary and husband Mark Bennett, Moira Holland, and Patrick and wife Marnie Holland. She is also survived by her 18 grandchildren: Patrick (Brandy) Holland, Erin Holland, Colleen (Mike) Gibson, Matt Holland, Meredith (Jon) Meyer, Colson Holland, Kelsey Holland, Natalie Holland, Steve (Terah) Holland, Brad (Amanda) Holland, Jacob Bennett, Andrew Bennett, Patrick Bennett, Bridget Kalicki, Colin Kalicki, Keira Holland, Kellan Holland, and McKinleigh Holland. And 4 great grandchildren: Connor Holland, Cora Holland, Lincoln Holland, Everett Gibson, and a baby boy on the way.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Maureen Therese, her parents, and siblings Marie, Robert, Edward and Daniel.

A celebration of her life will be on Saturday, May 14th, 2022. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 273 S. Prairie St., Galesburg, IL 61401, followed by Mass at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Saint Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions for Joan can be made in her and her daughter, Maureen’s, memory to the Children’s Mercy Cancer Center https://support.childrensmercy.org/Joan-Frances-Holland