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March 30, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held 9:30 AM on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.
Dr. Yolanda Holliger (nee Tomaiuoli), age 74 of Wayne, passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2013.
Yo, as she was known by all, was a graduate of Saint Joseph’s Academy of Brentwood, Long Island. An accomplished musician, she graduated with a BA in piano performance from The College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown where she was presented the Mother Xavier award as an outstanding graduate of the college. She furthered her studies at Columbia University, New York and graduated with an MA in piano performance before going on to study at numerous conservatories throughout Europe. Following her marriage to her beloved husband of 44 years, Thomas Holliger, the couple began a life journey together and lived in various places including Tonawanda, NY, Packanack Lake and St. Petersburg, FL before returning to Packanack Lake in 1977. Wherever they lived, Yolanda always maintained a studio in which she taught students to play piano. She was former organist as well as president of the women’s guild and parish board member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne. While residing in St. Petersburg, FL she served at Holy Family Catholic Church as organist, choir director, and president of the school’s PTA. Upon returning to Wayne in 1977, Yolanda resumed her ministry of music as organist at Immaculate Heart Parish and later served as organist and choir director for Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne. She continued to receive her masters and doctorate in music education from Columbia University. While a doctoral candidate, she served as director of the community music center at Teachers College, Columbia University. Throughout her life she used her gifts of music to bless others through numerous philanthropic endeavors.
Outside of musical pursuits Yolanda lived a full and vibrant life in which she especially enjoyed horseback riding, playing golf, taking art lessons, playing tennis, bowling, rooting for the Yankees and attending as many of her sixteen grandchildren’s events as she could.
Despite all her accomplishments, nothing was more important to Yo than her faith in God and her love for her family. She will be missed by all of them and is survived by her six children: Rosemarie Costello and husband Brian of Edmond, OK, Michele Betz and husband William of Wayne, Aileen Lange and husband Frank of Lincoln Park, Thomas Holliger and wife Michele of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Maureen Karsen and husband Keith of Pompton Plains, and Michael Holliger and wife Deanna of Denver, CO; sixteen grandchildren: Kevin Costello of Los Angeles, CA, First Lieutenant Christopher Costello and wife Amanda of Omaha, NE, William Betz of Wayne, Kathryn Elder and husband Clayton of Irvine, CA, Kyle, Carlyn and Clare Costello, all of Edmond, OK, Matthew Betz of Wayne, Frank and Colleen Lange, both of Lincoln Park, Shannon Betz of Wayne, Kendra, Ryan and Reed Karsen, all of Pompton Plains, and Kayla and Matthew Holliger, both of Denver, CO; one great-grandchild: Chloe Costello of Omaha, NE; and two sisters-in-law: Cookie Tomaiuoli of Syracuse, NY and Patsy Landholt of Columbus, OH.
Yolanda was predeceased by her beloved husband Thomas in 2004, as well as her brother Matthew and brother-in-law Gerald Landholt.
As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Yolanda’s memory to The Society for the Propogation of the Faith, 70 West 36th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10018, or The Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, P.O. Box 728, Peoria, IL 61652.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held 9:30 AM on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.
March 30, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held 9:30 AM on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, Wayne, where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.
Dr. Yolanda Holliger (nee Tomaiuoli), age 74 of Wayne, passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2013.
Yo, as she was known by all, was a graduate of Saint Joseph’s Academy of Brentwood, Long Island. An accomplished musician, she graduated with a BA in piano performance from The College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown where she was presented the Mother Xavier award as an outstanding graduate of the college. She furthered her studies at Columbia University, New York and graduated with an MA in piano performance before going on to study at numerous conservatories throughout Europe. Following her marriage to her beloved husband of 44 years, Thomas Holliger, the couple began a life journey together and lived in various places including Tonawanda, NY, Packanack Lake and St. Petersburg, FL before returning to Packanack Lake in 1977. Wherever they lived, Yolanda always maintained a studio in which she taught students to play piano. She was former organist as well as president of the women’s guild and parish board member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne. While residing in St. Petersburg, FL she served at Holy Family Catholic Church as organist, choir director, and president of the school’s PTA. Upon returning to Wayne in 1977, Yolanda resumed her ministry of music as organist at Immaculate Heart Parish and later served as organist and choir director for Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne. She continued to receive her masters and doctorate in music education from Columbia University. While a doctoral candidate, she served as director of the community music center at Teachers College, Columbia University. Throughout her life she used her gifts of music to bless others through numerous philanthropic endeavors.
Outside of musical pursuits Yolanda lived a full and vibrant life in which she especially enjoyed horseback riding, playing golf, taking art lessons, playing tennis, bowling, rooting for the Yankees and attending as many of her sixteen grandchildren’s events as she could.
Despite all her accomplishments, nothing was more important to Yo than her faith in God and her love for her family. She will be missed by all of them and is survived by her six children: Rosemarie Costello and husband Brian of Edmond, OK, Michele Betz and husband William of Wayne, Aileen Lange and husband Frank of Lincoln Park, Thomas Holliger and wife Michele of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Maureen Karsen and husband Keith of Pompton Plains, and Michael Holliger and wife Deanna of Denver, CO; sixteen grandchildren: Kevin Costello of Los Angeles, CA, First Lieutenant Christopher Costello and wife Amanda of Omaha, NE, William Betz of Wayne, Kathryn Elder and husband Clayton of Irvine, CA, Kyle, Carlyn and Clare Costello, all of Edmond, OK, Matthew Betz of Wayne, Frank and Colleen Lange, both of Lincoln Park, Shannon Betz of Wayne, Kendra, Ryan and Reed Karsen, all of Pompton Plains, and Kayla and Matthew Holliger, both of Denver, CO; one great-grandchild: Chloe Costello of Omaha, NE; and two sisters-in-law: Cookie Tomaiuoli of Syracuse, NY and Patsy Landholt of Columbus, OH.
Yolanda was predeceased by her beloved husband Thomas in 2004, as well as her brother Matthew and brother-in-law Gerald Landholt.
As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Yolanda’s memory to The Society for the Propogation of the Faith, 70 West 36th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10018, or The Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, P.O. Box 728, Peoria, IL 61652.
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