Helen Ann Holly

Helen Ann Holly, 102, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away peacefully of natural causes on August 13, 2025. Helen was born December 18, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York, to John Durney Gough and Helen M (White) Gough. She lived a life defined by compassion, service, and a steadfast commitment to both her family and her community.

Helen’s early years in Brooklyn set the stage for her remarkable life. After graduating from Cornell University with a nursing degree in 1944, Helen married the love of her life, George J. Holly Jr., at the Church of Saint Francis DeSales in Belle Harbor, New York, that same September. As George pursued his naval career, the couple moved several times throughout the Eastern United States, growing their family and forming lifelong friendships along the way.

In 1960, George retired from the Navy, and the Holly family made Las Vegas their home. There, Helen began working as a private duty nurse, touching countless lives with her kindness and dedication. By 1965, Helen entered public service as one of the first Jail Matrons with the Las Vegas Police Department, demonstrating her trailblazing spirit and commitment to helping others.

Helen never stopped learning or striving to make a difference. She returned to her academic pursuits, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UNLV in 1971, followed by a Master’s in Counseling in 1980. Her career took an historic turn in 1974, when she became Nevada’s first female Federal Probation Officer, focusing on drug and alcohol rehabilitation. In this role, Helen became a mentor and advocate for many, shaping lives with her wisdom and courage.

Throughout her career, Helen championed the nursing profession, serving as President of the Nevada Nursing Association. In 1970, she was honored as Professional Mother of the Year, and in recognition of her tireless work combating substance misuse, April 3, 1987, was proclaimed “Helen Holly Day” in Nevada by Governor Richard Bryan. In 2009, her years of dedicated federal service were formally commemorated at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse in Las Vegas.

Helen’s commitment to family was unwavering. She was the proud mother of ten children: Patty (Jack) Robinson, George J. Holly III (deceased), John (Judy Haren) Holly, Blaise (Angie Cerna) Holly, Maureen (Bill) Maguire, Rosemary (Lee) Skelley, Charles (Lisa Masino) Holly, Eileen (Richard) Rapone, Kathleen (Tom) Tanksley and Bill (Susan Booker) Holly. Her legacy further flourishes through her 23 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George J. Holly Jr., her son George (Buddy) and grandson George Holly.

Beyond her professional and family life, Helen was devoted to genealogy and spent countless hours conducting research—decades before technology made it easy—often traveling to Salt Lake City to scour microfilm records. Later, she shared her passion by teaching genealogy classes for many years, helping others discover their own histories. A lifelong scrapbooker, Helen created over 90 treasured scrapbooks for her extended family, preserving cherished memories for generations to come.

Helen’s faith sustained and inspired her. A devout Catholic, in 2017, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining the Carmelite order as a nun, cementing decades of spiritual devotion.

Helen’s memory will be held dear by her large, loving family, and the countless people she served throughout her life.

Services will be held on Thursday, August 28th, beginning at 9:30 AM at Palm Mortuary - Downtown, 1325 North Main Street, Las Vegas.

In lieu of flowers, kindly have a Catholic mass said in Helen’s memory.