Helen Mary Holley

Helen Mary Holley was born May 28, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Oteris Bertrand & Justine Baptiste Bertrand. Helen is the oldest of 5 children. Her other siblings are, Ottio Jr., Earle, Shirley and Wilma.

In 1946, she met William Anderson Holley while he was stationed in New Orleans as a soldier in the United States Army. They fell in love and soon married. Helen took the role of mother and homemaker as her first priority after their sons, Kenneth and William “Billy” Jr. was born and moved their family to New York. Queensbridge Housing is where they decided to raise their family.

While living in Queensbridge, Helen enjoyed raising their three sons; Kenneth, William Jr. and Bruce. Legendary for her New Orleans family traditions of Friday fish fry, spaghetti and meatballs and everyone’s favorite gumbo. Her interests included family, sewing, cooking and shopping for just about any and everything.

Helen Mary Holley, 89, left us on September 14, 2013, with her family by her side at Queens Boulevard Extended Care. Helen is survived by her brother, Earle; her sister, Wilma; 2 sons, Kenneth and Bruce; 5 grandchildren, Fatima (Quent), LaQuinta (Adam), Kiam, Jivon and Akira (Jabar); 11 great-grandchildren, Quasim, Jayla Marion, Zakar, Kiam, Sonnet, Elisa, Amir, Andre William, Jesus Jeremiah, Daimien Robert, Kasey and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

~~Lovingly Submitted~~

THE FAMILY