Obituary of Joy Holloway

Aletha "Joy” Holloway of South Bend passed away at home on July 25, 2022.

Joy was born on January 6, 1924, to Emmett Grant and Effie Alverta (Blyly) Whitmyer in Elkhart, Indiana.

Joy is preceded in death by her parents and two siblings: Dorothy (Jim) Hosterman of Elkhart and Berthella (“Mick”) Stevens of Bremen.

Surviving Joy are her two children, David (Regina) Holloway of Marion, Montana, and Barbara (Michael) Brubaker of South Bend, Indiana; ten grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.

Joy made it to 98 years young and had a lifetime of cherished memories and experiences. She was gregarious and spent most of her life putting others before herself. After graduating from Elkhart High School Joy began working at Miles Laboratory. Due to WWII, she went from processing medicine to packaging coffee for our troops. On October 30, 1947, she married Henry James Holloway Jr., with whom she had two children.

“Hank” passed away from polio in September of 1953, leaving her to raise her children alone. Joy worked diligently to provide for her kids and found success in many industries due to her strong work ethic. She worked 47 years as a crossing guard for the St Joseph County Sheriff’s Department in Clay Township. During her time at Eggleston School, she was a teacher’s aide and assisted on the playground and in the lunchroom, office, and library building relationships with students, families, and teachers. She was known amongst school staff and extended family for her excellent pies and candied holiday popcorn. 

The community embraced her for years, approaching her in stores for a stroll down memory lane or to introduce their kids to her. Joy’s age never stopped her from doing the things she wanted to do. She enjoyed nature, especially Warren Dunes and Fernwood. She loved to read and educate herself on a plethora of subjects. For years Joy maintained a garden. She was an extremely intelligent woman who also had a mind for art. Painting, drawing, and poetry writing were among the many talents she honed over the years. Joy’s shared stories will live on with her friends, family, and community as a cherished memory.

A private interment will take place at St. Joseph Valley Cemetery.

The family will be hosting a drop-in time of remembrance from 3:30-6:30 pm on Thursday, August 4th at Redeemer Missionary Church, 19671 Cleveland Rd. All are welcome.

Memorial contributions may be made out to any nature or environmental causes.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.