Pauline " Polly" Holden

Pauline “Polly” J. Holden, a native Texan, born in Bessmay,Texas in the year 1923, went to be with the lord on December 19, 2010. She is now dancing and celebrating eternal life with her loved ones who were waiting for her in Heaven.

Polly was a servant at heart whether teaching elementary school children, cooking for family and friends, or fellowship with the Family Guild and the Religious of the Sacred Heart at Duchesne Academy. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, singing, painting, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She received a Bachelor’s of Art Degree in Education at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches. Polly started her teaching career in Orange, Texas with the war time extended programs for children during WWII. She then taught at Buna HS.

Teaching elementary Language Arts, Math, and Science, Polly’s teaching later moved to Houston, Texas during the 1950’s at the Kinkaid School, and she completed her teaching career at the Briar Wood School in the late 70’s and Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in the early 80’s.

As an Honorary Alumnus of the Sacred Heart, Polly Holden lived her life with spiritual grace that exemplified the Sacred Heart from her head to her toes. Polly was a woman of faith who had deep gratitude for God's personal love that she witnessed to by her generosity, commitment and service to others. Happy with herself, Polly empowered others; she made a difference in others' lives. She had intellectual breadth and depth, fostered solid principles and values, high standards and goals. She had respect for others, and treated all with courtesy and caring. Polly knew the importance of discipline in life that fosters beauty which comes through order, harmony and truth. Polly knew the increasing significance of inclusion, of acceptance and celebration of diversity. All these qualities created the "spirit" of the Sacred Heart in Polly Holden — a spirit that was tangible, empowering, open-minded, steadfast. By the depth of her personal life with God and by witnessing to that inner life in all her efforts to communicate what she received through the Sacred Heart heritage.

Polly is survived by her son, John Holden; son and daughter-in-law, William and Charlotte Holden; son and daughter-in-law Joseph and Brenda Holden; and daughter Mary Nell Holden and special friend Judy Holman; grandchildren, Jacqueline, Marlowe, Matthew, Taylor, and Emma; sisters, Sally J. Hudson, Juanita J. Mangham, and Sylvia J. Owen.

Polly was preceded in death by her parents William Carl and Thelma A. Jones; brother William Jones; and husbands, Max Duckworth and Clarence M. Holden.

Memorial Mass will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday January 8, 2011 at Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions are made to Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, 10202 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024.