Marilyn T. “Molly” Holmes – 88 – a resident at Hornell Gardens died Sunday morning (January 10, 2016) at St. James Mercy Hospital where she was taken by Hornell City Ambulance.
Born in Hornell on May 19, 1927, she was the daughter of John and Lila (Burrows) Ahearn.
Molly grew up in Hornell, NY and was a graduate of Hornell High School (Class of 1945). During her adult years, Molly lived in different areas of New York, including Rochester, Holcomb, and Webster before moving back to Hornell in 1992. After graduating from Hornell High School she worked for Cards Drug Store for a couple of years. She was employed by Stromberg-Carlson, a telecommunications equipment and electronics manufacturing company in Rochester, NY. She later became a mail carrier for twenty-one years with the United States Postal Service. After retiring from the USPS in 1989, Molly worked at the Twentieth Century Club Library in Almond, NY for about seven years.
Molly was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and a communicant of St. Ann’s Church. In her youth, she attended St. Ignatius Church.
Being part Iroquois, Molly was an avid collector of Native American Indian artifacts. She was a member of the Iroquois Studies Association and a life member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Molly had a love of reading, and she was an exceptional gardener – flowers were her passion! An organization near and dear to Molly’s heart was the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The monthly donations she had been making for decades aided in the research of life-threatening diseases and the treatment of children.
In addition to her parents, Molly was preceded in death by four brothers, John “Jack” Ahearn, James Ahearn, Joseph Ahearn, and William Ahearn; one sister, Bette (Moss) VanHassent.
Surviving are her brothers, Gerard “Jerry” Ahearn of Genoa, NY and Michael Ahearn (Lee Lysyczyn) of Painted Post, NY; several nieces and nephews.
The family of Marilyn T. “Molly” Holmes will receive friends on Friday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Dagon Funeral Home, 38 Church Street, Hornell, NY where a Memorial Service will be celebrated at the conclusion of calling hours at 6:00 PM with Deacon Robert McCormick officiating. Final interment will be in St. Ann’s Cemetery.
Molly’s family requests that memorial contributions in her name be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Hornell Animal Shelter, 7694 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843. Memorial forms will be available at the Dagon Funeral Home or click here to print a memorial form.