Frances Josephine Holan

Our beloved mother, Frances J. Holan (99 yrs young), went home peacefully to be with our Lord on July 29, 2026 at home in Porter, Texas. She was born on March 10, 1927 in Mullins Prairie, Fayette County, Texas to Karel “Charles“ and Marie Anna Kozel (née Kolek) and baptized on March 12, 1927 as Frantiska Josefa Kozel. Frances grew up in a large Czech‑Texan farming family whose traditions shaped her entire life. Her parents instilled the value of faith, family, and hard work to her and her 9 siblings. After working hard on the farm, she and her siblings would often go to Swiss Alp Dance Hall on the weekends. It was there that Janie Kana (Kristynik) introduced Frances to Erwin Ignatz Holan on January 5, 1949. Frances and Erwin were married on June 14, 1949 at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. With much devotion, she and Erwin worked hard to raise and provide for nine children. While still taking care of their children, Frances was very proud of her work at Holiday Inn, laundering neighbor’s clothes, and sewing clothes for her children.

Frances was a faithful member of St. John’s of the Cross Catholic Church and the Catholic Daughters of America. She cherished time spent with her family, listening and dancing to Polka music, especially Mollie B’s lively melodies, and baking and eating Kolaches. Even after losing most of her sight, she would still garden, giving first fruits of her vegetables to the priest and nuns in New Caney.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents Charles and Mary Kozel, her husband of 55 years, Erwin Ignatz Holan, on October 24, 2004, two sons at birth, James and Johnny, a daughter, Janie Marie Grayson (née Holan), three brothers, Vaclav John (Brother Raphael), Joseph Charles Kozel, Aloysius Cyril Kozel, two sisters, Sister Annie Marie Kozel and Mary Agnes Grahmann (née Kozel) son in law, Gary Keith Marshall, and granddaughter Shannon Marie Marshall.

Frances is survived by 4 siblings, Lillie Theresa Vecera (née Kozel), Beatrice Josephine Janecka (née Kozel), Albert Benedict Kozel and wife Rita, and John Athanus Kozel and wife Lillian, and sister in law Margaret Kozel; she is also survived by her children, Wenceslaus Charles “Jim” Holan and wife Sharon, Arnold Erwin Holan Sr., Joseph Alois Holan, son-in-law Bill Grayson, Daniel Raymond Holan, Dorothy Ann Wooley (née Holan, formally Marshall) and husband Harold, Christopher Andrew Holan and wife Tracy, Mary Ann Holan, and Charles David Holan. She will also be lovingly remembered and missed by her twenty grandchildren, several with spouses who became part of the family, seventeen great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing will be on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Kingwood Funeral Home on Hwy 59 N. from 5pm - 7:30pm, with a rosary said from 7:30pm - 8pm. On Friday, August 7, 2026 at St. Johns of the Cross Catholic Church, a rosary will be said from 11am - 11:30am, with a funeral mass beginning at 11:30am. Interment will follow at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn, Tx at 4pm.