With gratitude for her 92 years and with deep sadness at her loss, we announce BJ’s peaceful passing on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in her home at The Meadowlands in Ancaster, after visits with grandchildren and surrounded by her children. She was looking forward to her reunion with her beloved husband, Skip and her dear parents George and “Daisy” Holland, of whom she spoke often. Much loved mother and loving “Grammy and Great Grammy” to Chris (Laura - Leah and Liam/Jen), David (Cindy - Ben (Allison, Jimmy and Louis), Emily, and Sam), Nancy, and Sue (Doug - Rachel and Natalie).

Born in Liverpool, England, BJ was a wonderful combination of the British “stiff upper lip” and generous compassion. She faced life’s trials with dogged determination, developing her systems to “manage” raising 4 children and the limitations of age. She was a loyal friend to many over the years, faithfully maintaining contact with a vast community of friends who added to the richness of her life and her family’s. An avid conversationalist, BJ laughed easily, loved Gilbert and Sullivan and Shakespeare, and was a lifelong learner.
An only child, BJ came to Canada by ship with her parents in 1938 ahead of the war. She grew up in Windsor, a proud graduate of Kennedy Collegiate and then Assumption University of Windsor (BA 1954). She trained as a teacher over the summers at (OCE) Ontario College of Education (‘55, ‘56, ‘57) and taught at Patterson High school in Windsor and Clarke Rd. in London. While attending OCE, she lived with some girls from London who introduced her to a young Western medical student. And the beautiful love story that she loved to tell began. BJ and Skip married in 1958, spent a year in Sheffield, England as Skip did an extra year of training, and finally settled in Hamilton to raise their growing family. BJ ferried her kids to school and extra-curricular events, piano lessons, and was very involved in the Big Sister’s Association. Once Sue was in high school, BJ started back to teaching, first as a supply teacher and then in the HWDSB high school classroom of the Child Life Department at St. Joseph’s hospital, where she learned and taught a variety of subjects to students who were in hospital for long periods.

BJ and Skip enjoyed travel over the years, time at the cottage and listening to Stuart Maclean. BJ lived out her strong faith through the years, including through her involvement at St. John United Church, and that faith sustained her and our family as she cared faithfully and lovingly for Skip through his Parkinson’s illness, helping him cross the line nearly 10 years ago. She has continued to enjoy time with friends and family and Hudson and Rex.

We are most grateful to the staff of the Meadowlands where BJ has lived for almost 2 years now. Their care and kindness and affection for Mom has been such a gift.
Visitation at Bay Gardens Funeral Home, 947 Rymal Rd. E., Hamilton, (905.574.0405) on Sunday, Nov. 2 from 3-5pm. Funeral service at St. John United Church, 195 E38th St. on Monday, Nov. 3 at 11am. Luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, we ask that in memoriam donations be made to The Big Sisters’ Association or a charity of your choice.