Marjorie Holmstrom, born August 15, 1926, of New Bedford passed Monday 5/18/2020 after a courageous battle with heart disease.
She was a fierce and successful businesswoman working as an executive ahead of the curve for Arlan’s Dept. Store in her early family years until she realized her true calling was to stay home and raise her children and if you knew them this was a challenge in itself. While home, she was also the best Girl Scout Leader any troop could wish for, a beloved CCD teacher, and was actively involved with community issues, namely Ward 6 where she spent her entire life.
Maggie was a very faithful and active participant at St. Mary’s Church in South Dartmouth until her health prevented her from attending. That didn’t stop her from regular house visits by parishioners and weekly communion at home.
She will always be remembered as an animal lover, but especially as one of the kindest, most thoughtful woman one would ever hope to meet. Rarely would you see her without a dog by her side and she always put her family first. She always had an open-door policy to anyone in the neighborhood and beyond that needed help or simply a shoulder to lean on. Many sought her compassion and no one left hungry.
Her mind remained sharp until the end, and as an example of her charming and witty personality, Maggie looked forward to reuniting with her cherished husband who passed at the young age of 56. She would jokingly say in recent years - “He was still a young man when he died, he won’t recognize me”. We would always remind her that he would recognize her for the beautiful person she has been.
While she will be sadly missed in this world, they are joyfully happily together again.
She was the beloved wife of the late William (Big Bill) Holmstrom and proud mother of the late William (Little Bill) Holmstrom Jr. Dad will always be “Big Bill” at 5’-10” and Bill will always be “Little Bill” at 6’-4”. She is also predeceased by her loving family members Henry Cygan and his wife Annie Ruth Cygan.
Marjorie AKA Maggie, Marge, Margie, Mom, Ma, Gramma and Grammy is survived by 4 other children, Mike Holmstrom and his wife Karen of Dartmouth, Heidi (Holmstrom) Sylvia and her husband Brian also of Dartmouth, Wendy Holmstrom of Barnstable, and Holly (Holmstrom) Koch and her husband Andy of Westfield. She also leaves 2 half-brothers, Dr. Ralph Cygan and his wife Dr. Kitty Cygan in California and Henry Cygan Jr. of Maine.
She leaves 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, not to mention many grand dogs and great grand dogs, all of whom she was so very proud of and brought her great pride and happiness.
Her Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 8, 2020 at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 795 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Rt. 6, New Bedford. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Dartmouth Funeral Home on Russell’s Mills Rd.
In lieu of flowers or donations it is the Holmstrom Family’s desire that during these uncertain times you all pay an act of kindness to a loved one or even a stranger. We know Mom would love this in her honor.
For online tributes, please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com
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