Theresa A. Holman

Theresa A. Holman

August 5, 1939 – September 28, 2020

Preceded in death by husband, Eugene A. Holman, Sr.; and parents, Ann and Joseph Spirek.  Survived by children: Eugene Holman, Jr. (Brenda), Katherine Slykerman (Myron), Carol Schmidt (Jon), Julie Ryan (Ron) and Joseph Holman (Samantha); 15 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; and sister-in-law, Linda Acamo.

VISITATION following CDC guidelines: Thursday, October 1^st from 5pm to 7pm, at the West Center Chapel followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm.  MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Friday, October 2^nd, 10am, St. Leo the Great Catholic Church (1920 N. 102^nd St.)  INTERMENT: Resurrection Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to Nebraska Children’s Home Society, St. Leo’s or Children’s Hospital.

To view a live broadcast of the Vigil and Mass, go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Service” button on the homepage.

****************************************************

Theresa A. Spirek was born in Omaha, Nebraska on August 5, 1939 and adopted by Joseph and Ann (Murphy) Spirek when she was 2 months old. Her parents died while she was young so she moved in with an aunt and uncle who finished raising her. She graduated from Mercy High School in 1957.

That November, she met Eugene A. Holman. It was love at first sight and they married the following year on August 16, 1958. They had five children. All five of their children married and gave them a total of 15 grandchildren, as well as one great grandchild with another to be born by the end of this year.

Being a mother and raising a family was of the utmost importance to her. She counted herself blessed with each new arrival. She was a loving mother, wonderful grandmother, and incredible cook. She spent years perfecting recipes and has a few that are considered treasured family secrets.

A lifelong Catholic with a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Theresa carried a rosary with her and could be found praying in quiet hours of the day as well as in the midst of chaotic moments. She served as a reader at Mass as well as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and missed these special ministries when they came to an end.

Theresa was proud of her work as a secretary and retired from Douglas County Hospital in 2001. During the last few years, she could still read and write shorthand!

Her proudest moments included graduating from Metropolitan Community College with an associate degree. She had a deep passion for writing, was a voracious reader, loved putting puzzles together and solving crosswords. She was even been known to play word games online with her friends. These activities kept her mind sharp and her pen close at hand.

In her retirement, she found making quilts to be rewarding and enjoyed sewing with her quilting groups and guild. She loved shopping for fabric, working on group projects, and donating the quilts to others in need. It was another way for her giving and caring heart to share with others.

During the last couple of years, Theresa had developed some heart problems which really slowed her down and bothered her greatly. She longed to be more active but struggled to find the energy. In the end, her heart failed and she passed into eternity on September 28, 2020.

Theresa was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene “Gene” Holman, Sr.; parents, Joseph P. and Ann Spirek; brothers: Richard, Joseph (Mae Shade), and John Acamo; brothers and sisters-in-law: Jane and Anthony Bruckner, Joseph and Eleanor Holman, Dorothy and William Harden, George and Patricia Holman. She is survived by her children: Eugene Jr. and Brenda, Katherine and Myron Slykerman, Carol and Andy Schmidt, Julie and Deacon Ron Ryan, Joseph and Samantha; grandchildren: Matthew, Lucas and Benjamin Slykerman, Hannah (Andrew) Hettinger, Rebecca (Dominic) Castello, Nicholas, Zachary, Nathaniel and Madison Schmidt, Jacob and Daniel Ryan; Kylie (Spencer) Robinson, Christian, Kennedy and Colby Holman; great grandchildren, Sawyer Castello and Henry Hettinger; sister-in-law, Linda Acamo; nieces and nephews.