Johanne C Holmes

Johanne (Johanna) C. Holmes was known most of her life as Johanna Claire Nicholson or Johanna C. McMenemy. She was born December 27, 1944 to Harold and Maggie McMenemy in Port Alberni, British Columbia. Johanna died July 31, 2024, at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, of cardiac arrest.

Johanna is survived by her husband, Russell Holmes of Ankeny, Iowa, and her two grandchildren. Freddie Young is a 3rd year law student at the University of Alberta in Edmonton and Katherine Young is a nursing student in New Westminster, British Columbia.

After graduating from business college in Victoria, Johanna (known as “Jo” by nearly everyone) married Terry Nicholson in 1964. They had a daughter, Maureen, always known as “Mac.” Maureen was only 4 years old when her father was killed in an airplane accident. Johanna raised Maureen on her own in Vancouver. Maureen obtained a bachelors degree from the University of British Columbia in linguistics and a masters degree from Simon Fraser University in speech pathology.

Johanna worked for law firms in Vancouver as well as the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control for many years before retiring in 2014. She and her daughter were both excellent artists and avid readers of nonfiction. Johanna’s favorite magazine was the New Yorker and she loved the writing of Somerset Maugham. Johanna always had a deep sense of appreciation and compassion for people.

Johanna was known for her sense of humor and ability to laugh – she was often called a good audience by friends and coworkers. Johanna was a dynamic person who had a nearly photographic memory and multiple interests. However, in 2022, Maureen died of ovarian cancer. Johanna never got over the death of her beloved daughter.

In 2007 she met Russell Holmes and they married several years later. Johanna moved to Iowa to be with Russell in 2021 and their plans were to relocate to Vancouver or Vancouver Island. However, Johanna had health issues that altered their plans. She was beginning to get better when an infection caused septic shock and her death due to cardiac arrest. Her death was unexpected.

One of Johanna’s favorite expressions was “don’t let fear or commonsense hold you back!” That epitomized her life as she and Maureen traveled to Paris, London, New York City, Scotland and other places over the years. Johanna loved Vancouver and the lifestyle of that vibrant community. She will be and is greatly missed by all who knew her.