Monica Elizabeth Hollohan

Monica was born in Sydney, the second youngest of the 12 MacKinnon children of Columbia Street. She was a graduate of Holy Angels, and furthered her education at “Little X” and St.FX, where she earned her B.Ed in 1971. Monica enjoyed a 34 year teaching career, spending most of her time teaching her beloved Grade 2 at St. Joseph’s Elementary. She truly loved her profession, and took great pride in the relationships she built with her students and the community. Many former students fondly recall Mrs. Hollohan’s Friday afternoon square dances, fiddle music, and popsicles - rewards earned after a hard week of reading, cursive writing, and mathematics. Monica was grateful to have taught during the “golden years” of education in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. She enjoyed coaching Girls’ Hockey, supporting her students each year during their First Holy Communion, and watching her Grade 2 class perform each December in the Christmas Concert. Monica made many lifelong friends during her teaching career, and continued these relationships into retirement.

In 1973, Monica married Terry, and several years later welcomed their son, Ian, and daughter, Lindsay. They settled on Rosemount Drive in the early 80s, and developed a great connection with many neighbours that lasted through the decades. Monica enjoyed spending summers at The Bungalow in Big Pond - playing cards, sitting by bonfires, drinking tea with Bernie, and attending Rita MacNeil concerts. During the rest of the year, she could often be found in the company of her many siblings, at family parties or events, fiddle concerts, or just visiting and enjoying a good cup of tea and tea biscuit. She also enjoyed learning to make Lebanese food with her mother-in-law, Selina. Monica was always very involved in lives of her many nieces and nephews, and enjoyed attending their sporting events, school functions, and graduations. In later years she enjoyed Rummoli games with her family, piano lessons and trips to Cheticamp (for bread or pies) with her partner-in-crime, Petronella, and road trips to Halifax to stay with her brother and sister-in-law, Frankie and Rose. Until recent years, Monica and Terry were able to make frequent visits to Fredericton to spend time with their beloved granddaughter, Sloane.

Monica was predeceased by her parents, Steve and Mary MacKinnon, her sisters, Bebe Doyle, Kathleen Nadeau, and Petronella Hanson, her brother, Neil, her sister-in-law, Paula Campbell, her brothers-in-law, Albert Doyle, Ed Nadeau, Joe Kelly, Dennis Hollohan, Bruce Hollohan, and Milad Abou-Hamad, her father and mother-in-law, Paul and Selina Hollohan, and her beloved nephew, Tyler Hooper.

Monica is survived by her husband of 52 years, Terry, son, Ian (Natalie Mombourquette) of Fredericton, daughter, Lindsay (Claire Durnin) of Fall River, granddaughter, Sloane, and step-grandchildren, Charley, Sophie, Lily, and Jacob. She is also survived by her brothers, Frankie (Rose), Saul (Lily), Joe (Michelene), sisters, Vera Kelly, Cecelia (Steve Sernyk), Tena, Loretta (Bob Blandford), brothers-in-law, Mike Hollohan (Ernestine), Alex Campbell, sister-in-law and lifelong friend, Bernadette Hollohan, sisters-in-law, Francine Hollohan, Betty-Lou (Glenn Hooper), and 42 nieces and nephews and their families.

Monica will be sorely missed by her good friends, many of over 50 years, including Donna Boudreau, Marie Oake, Patricia MacDonald, Patricia MacNeil, and many others.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses, doctors, management, and staff of Twin Oaks Memorial Hospital, Dr. David Brandon, Dr. Steve MacDougall, Dr. Keith Singh, the nursing staff of 5 West DGH (particularly Melissa and Megan), and the many friends and family members who supported Monica with phone calls and visits over these past few months.

“And home I’ll be / Home I’ll be / Banish thoughts of leaving / Home I’ll be” – Rita MacNeil

Cremation has taken place. A service will take place, in Sydney, at a later date.