Photo Pages

Tribute Photo Page

• Email a friend
• Create a page like this
• Click here to bookmark this page

Anne was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1929. She graduated from Peace and Meredith Colleges and taught elementary school until she met and married Vernon Holt in 1956. They raised four children (David, Brian, Alan and Diane) and were married 63 years. They traveled to places in the US and Canada, lived in Lafayette, Indiana; Whippany, New Jersey; Raleigh, North Carolina and Allentown, Pennsylvania before finally settling down in Mendham, New Jersey.

The heart and soul

Anne fostered a love of reading in her children and her community. She volunteered at the Mountain View Middle School library and the Mendham Borough Public Library, where she eventually was employed as the IT specialist, assisting library patrons for over 20 years and enjoying the good friends she met there. She also volunteered for community service programs including The League of Women Voters, National Organization for Women, and the Mendham Garden Club.

Anne was the heart and soul of her family and of their home. She managed the checkbook, paid the bills, cooked the meals, and was a constant, loving presence to all. Anne called, wrote letters and sent emails to keep in touch with all her loved ones, along with remembering to send cards for birthdays and anniversaries. She'd decorate, cook, bake or add something extra to make holidays special. She was a proud grandmother to Ben, Julia, Henry and Sam.

Despite leaving the south years ago, Anne always kept a hint of her North Carolina accent. She was rarely known to raise her voice or swear, and throughout her life she demonstrated true southern hospitality, kindness and warmth.

In addition to reading, she loved watching baseball, gardening, winning family card games and playing computer solitaire and word puzzle games. She was a competitive Boggle player and an avid crossword puzzle solver.

Her journey with Alzheimer's

Anne was officially diagnosed in 2011, although there were signs of minor memory loss and behavior change before that time. She was blessed to be able to stay at home with her husband Vernon and son Brian as her loving and patient caregivers.

Anne passed away peacefully at her home in Mendham, New Jersey on March 5, 2020. She was 90. Her family would like to thank Anne's sisters and their husbands, Jean & Russ Thompson and Joan & John Brown, who visited and called frequently. Much gratitude to the Visiting Nurse Association aides, nurses, doctors and others, who for more than seven years came into our lives, cared for Anne and also gave their support and encouragement to her family.