Jean Holland-Wood

October 10, 2011

TRAVERSE CITY — Jean Holland-Wood, 84, of Traverse City and Mt. Pleasant, died Oct. 10, 2011.Oct. 10, 2011, was the most beautiful night, a warm fall night with a nearly full moon. At about 1 a.m. at Country Pleasures Assisted Living in Traverse City, a beautiful woman passed into a new life. This classy, spunky, smart woman with a cute New England accent was Jean Holland-Wood. Jean came into this world on Jan. 21, 1927, in Houlton, Maine. She was the fourth and youngest child of the late Edward and Eldee Hogan.Jean was a true, card-carrying member of "The Greatest Generation." Like many of her generation, after high school she went on to enlist her services; she joined the Nurse Cadet Corps and in 1947, after three years of hard work and studies at Worcester City Hospital, Jean became Jean Hogan, RN. Being a Registered Nurse was only the first of many accolades bestowed on Jean. After moving to Mt. Pleasant in 1958, she went on to receive BS, MS and Specialist degrees from CMU. Jean taught psychology classes for many years at CMU and retired in 1989 as a professor Emeritus. Jean was always hard-charging. If Jean decided she needed to do something, she did it. "No" was not in her vocabulary. New acquaintances were always charmed by her politeness; she would put you through the mill, and then she would thank you for all you've done afterward.Of all of Jean's accomplishments, being a Registered Nurse was the one that seemed to mean the most to her. Maybe because it was her first degree or maybe it was a reminder of younger days or maybe it was simply that being an RN embraces everything that Jean was — a hardworking, educated, passionate, caring person. Even in her last year, with her declining health, she was always trying to help with the care of the other residents at the assisted living facility where she resided.Jean was also passionate about family. After moving to Michigan with her first husband, Howard Holland, she always made it a point to stay in touch with her family she left on the east coast. She also made sure that all of her children, nieces and nephews knew of their family history. The following is just a small sample of the family she loved:Jean was preceded in death by husbands, Howard Holland and Robert Wood; son, Matthew Holland; daughter, Susan Holland; sister, Rose Dyer; and brother, Terry Hogan.Jean is survived by her sister, Audrey Woodruff, of Randolph, Vt.; sons, Mike (wife, Beth Holland) Holland, of Marietta, Ga., and Bill (wife, Kim Steffes) Holland, of Traverse City; grandchildren, Lori (husband, Robin) Wright, Sean, Neal, Erin Holland, John, David and Chris Steffes; and great-grandchildren, Robert and Claire Wright. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1:30 p.m., at St John's Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant. Burial will follow at Mt Pleasant Cemetery in Bangor, Maine. If you would like to make a donation in memory of Jean please consider giving your time or money to what you're passionate about. It really does not matter what it is because the world will always be a better place after we give of ourselves. Jean knew this all too well. She was always looking out for some young student trying to find their way in the world or find a home for a homeless cat. Of course, whatever you do, don't forget to add a little humor because that would be Jean's way.The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.