Shrewsbury – Marlene F. (Hebenstreit) Holohan, 77, died at home 
Saturday Aug. 6, 2011, with her family by her side. She was predeceased by her husband of 40 years, Michael J. C. Holohan, who died in 1995, and her son, Kevin J. Holohan.
She is survived by her beloved children, Michael J. Holohan and his wife Theresa of Holden, Brian T. Holohan of Shrewsbury, Jeanne M. Diehl and her husband Robert C. Diehl of Holden, Lisa M. Roehrl and her husband Gerhard of Munich, Germany, Kelly A. Flannery and her husband Kevin of Newton, and Marlene T. Holohan and her husband John Reynolds of South Dartmouth; 17 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Born in Worcester, the daughter of the late Bernard and Pearl (Bedard) Hebenstreit, she graduated from St. Peter's High School in 1951 and started work as a secretary at Paul Revere Life Insurance. She later became a legal secretary and retired in 1997 after 15 years with Milton, Lawrence and Dixon, Attorneys at Law of Worcester.
Mrs. Holohan was an accomplished seamstress, outfitting many a bride and bridesmaid and, of course, her own children. She also took up quilting and was a founding member of the “Piecemakers” Quilt group at the Shrewsbury Senior Center. She was active in their knitting group, often quilting and knitting for charity.
One of her great passions was ballroom dancing, a highlight being her visits to the Kaiser Ball on New Year's Eve in Vienna. Her love of travel also brought her all over the United States and Europe. Always looking for new challenges, Mrs. Holohan learned to speak German late in life, added belly dancing to her hobbies and never stopped broadening her horizons. She was a devout Catholic and active member of St. Mary's Parish in Shrewsbury for over 40 years.
A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, “Memere” will forever be in the hearts of her family and fondly missed by all who loved her.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours Wednesday Aug. 10, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. Her funeral will held Thursday Aug. 11 from the funeral home with a funeral Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Church on Main Street in Shrewsbury. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery of Shrewsbury. The family then invites you to remember her at a reception in the parish hall of St. Mary's church.
Flowers may be sent or memorial donations may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation (www.parkinson.org), Gift Processing Center, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.
To leave a message of condolence or share a memory, please visit www.brittonfuneralhomes.com.
