Lucia DiRoma Holzinger

Lucia was born on the 15th of May 1922, in New Rochelle, New York, where she grew up. She met the love of her life, Richard James Holzinger, in New York shortly after the end of WWII where she was working at the jewelry counter at McCreery's department store. After a whirlwind three month courtship they eloped on the 15th of February 1946.

Lou put Jim through Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, later returning to New York in 1949 to become a successful buyer at McCreery's department store. She continued to work at major department stores, including D.H. Holmes in New Orleans, as they moved around the country with Shell Oil Company. She never lost her love for the fashion industry, though it was rivaled by her passion for golf and travels with her family.

In 1970, Lucia and her family moved to Houston, and while never completely losing her New York roots and love for the East Coast, she embraced the town she would call home for the next 45 years. She also never forgot her immigrant beginnings and was extremely proud of her contributions to the Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty Fund and was also a frequent contributor to St. Jude's Hospital.

Lucia was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Holzinger, and is survived by her three children, Andrea, Jan and Rick; her seven grandchildren, Elle, Kate, Chrissy, Hayley, Meg, Henry and Lucy; daughter-in-law, Sally Holzinger; son-in-law, Michael Durkin; sister-in-law, Lee DiRoma; and niece, Nancy DiRoma. Lucia was also survived briefly by her beloved but now deceased son-in-law, Tom Bres.

A memorial service celebrating her life is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 15th of August, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Lou's name be directed St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105, Source Code: IQ140788777.