Erika (Müller) Holly

Erika Waltraud (Müller) Holly, longtime resident of State College, passed away on March 5, 2018 in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. She was 77 years old.

Erika was born on October 28, 1940 in the town of Hainau in what was then Eastern Prussia (today the Kaliningrad Oblast region of Russia).

A nurse, Erika first came to the United States in 1963 as part of a training program. Soon after she met the love of her life, Donald H. Holly, whom she married in May of 1965. Later she converted to Catholicism and became a citizen of the United States. Together Erika and Don raised two children, Doreen and Don Jr. and three family dogs—Foxy, Ziggy, and Polo. In 1984 they moved from New York to State College, Pennsylvania and happily made it their home.

Erika worked for a time as a home nurse for the elderly, and enjoyed attending Penn State football games, taking long walks with her husband and dogs, shopping at the farmer’s market, visiting Amish country, the occasional glass of scotch, and spending time with family and friends. She regularly volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift store and was an active member of her church, Our Lady of Victory.       

Erika is survived by her daughter, Doreen Holly of Coatesville, PA; a son, Donald H. Holly Jr. and granddaughter, Katherine E. Holly, both of Charleston, IL; a brother, Gerhard Müller who lives in Germany. She is preceded in death by her parents, Johann Müller and Minna Radzuweit; brothers, Friedrich and Manfred; sisters, Irene, Dora, Gerda, Käthe, and Karin; a granddaughter, Jordan L. Holly, and her husband, Donald H. Holly. 

A memorial service will be held on Friday April 6th at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Pkwy, in State College. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Erika’s life at the Wellington Green clubhouse in State College following the service at 1 PM.  A private burial at the Spring Creek Presbyterian Cemetery will take place on Saturday.

Condolence messages for the family can be shared here on the guest book.

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