Obituary of Mary E Holden

GENEVA- Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Barnard Holden, 92, long-time resident of North Brook Street died in peace April 20, 2014 at Geneva Living Center South. There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be announced at a later date in August at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Geneva Public Library 244 Main St., Geneva or to the Geneva Teachers Association Scholarship Fund, 101 Carter Rd., Geneva. Betty was born August 11, 1921 in Woodbury, NJ, the daughter of the late H. Douglas and Leah Turner. She graduated from Paulsboro High School in 1938 where she participated on the swimming, field hockey and basketball teams prior to graduating from New Jersey Teachers' College in 1942. She began her rewarding career as a food inspector for the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in Florida and was assigned to inspect the Geneva Preserving Co. where she met Tom L. Barnard whom she married in 1948. Betty was a home demonstration agent and hosted a weekly television show. Mrs. Barnard retired in 1985 as a popular home economics teacher from the Geneva Junior and Senior High Schools after a 20+ year career, chairing her department and influencing thousands of students with indelible lessons in cooking and life skills. Her recipes and her classy wardrobe will be remembered by many. She was a founder and the enthusiastic advisor of the Geneva Junior High School ski club and was instrumental in designing the home and careers classrooms at the current Geneva High School. Betty was a Brownie Leader in the 1960's and a former member of the Seneca Lake Country Club, Geneva Country Club, Elkettes of the Geneva BPOE and a 50+ year member of the Presbyterian Church in Geneva. She was an avid reader and enjoyed playing euchre, bridge, golf and skiing every slope she could from Bristol to the Swiss Alps. Betty is survived by her children Douglas (Deborah) Barnard of Orangeburg, SC, Leah (James) Nicholson of Voorheesville, MaryE (Steven) Boyce of Franklin Park, NJ and Beverly (Thomas) Burrall of Geneva; grandchildren, Douglas Barnard, Jr., Jennifer (Marcus) Grant, James Nicholson, Catherine (Jason) Russell, Leah Jean Boyce, Trevor, Hannah and Audra Burrall; great-grandchildren Mary and Alison Barnard, Grace and Mikaila Russell and Abigail Nicholson; nieces, nephews and special cats Beth and Gilbert. Betty was predeceased by her husbands, Tom in 1985, Alfred in 2002 and her brother Douglas. The family would like to thank Betty's home aids Chris Nichols and Darla Martin for their loving and compassionate care.