Holly VanSuch, age 71, passed away on February 13, 2025 at Kentmere Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing.
She was born on Christmas Day in Brooklyn, NY and grew up in Floral Park, NY and was a graduate of Floral Park Memorial High School. She attended and graduated from SUNY New Paltz University with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Education and a minor in Music. She also attended CW Post College, NY and graduated with a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
After her move with her family to Delaware she devoted her life to raising her family including PTA, Little League, Girl Scouts, family vacations and all that is involved in raising three children.
Holly was an educator and when her youngest started pre-school, she started to work as an assistant teacher’s aide at St. David’s Day School. She continued her advancement to full time assistant up to Kindergarten teacher. She moved to public school system first as a kindergarten teacher then as a first-grade teacher at Forwood Elementary School. During this time, she continued to take classes to increase her knowledge and worked hard to earn her National Board certification. The opportunity became available, and she was promoted to Principal of Forwood Elementary, a career she enjoyed until her retirement. Even in retirement she worked as a teacher and a mentor with Reading Assist helping students to learn to read during the pandemic.
Her interests included, crafts, music, volunteer work, joining the Senior Center and spending time with family at their beach house near Broadkill Beach, DE.
Her favorite hobby was playing handbells. She was the handbell choir director at Aldersgate United Methodist Church for 13 years and also played in and directed choirs at St. Paul’s UMC, Westminster Presbyterian Church and Newark UMC, one year all at the same time. She was also a founding member of the Wilmington Handbell Ensemble for which she played for 20 years.
Holly is survived by her husband of 46 years, Joe, her daughter Katie, her sons, Bryan and his wife Laura and Kevin and his wife Kristen. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Colin, Brendan, Abby, Patrick, Sean and Megan, her sister Elizabeth, her brother James, her childhood friend Margie and her good friends Betty and Ellie.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, February 23, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 at the McCrery & Harra Funeral Home, 3924 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803. Service and internment will be private.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, http://www.alz.org, the National Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes .org or Meals on Wheels, https://mealsonwheelsde.org/
To send condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
