Elizabeth Ellen Bancroft (Boldizsar) Holgren

October 5, 1926  -  May 26, 2019

Elizabeth passed into the loving arms of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, surrounded by loving family, on Sunday, May 26, 2019 at the age of 92.  She was the first-born of three children to George T. and Lucille (White) Boldizsar (U.S. Navy) on October 5, 1926 in Honolulu, Hawaii.  As a military family they moved frequently.  She lived in Hawaii, Panama, California, New York, and Maryland.  She spent World War II years in Annapolis, Maryland while her father fought in the Pacific theater as Commanding Officer of amphibious forces.

Elizabeth graduated from Annapolis High School, Annapolis, Maryland with a beautiful singing voice and focused on developing a career based on it.  She was to attend the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland; however, she was stricken with the Polio virus prior to attending.  She spent time rehabilitating in Warm Springs, Georgia and recovered with a few disabilities and unable to realize her singing career.

Moving with her family to Alameda, California, she met and married Naval aviator Marvin A. Holgren in 1951.  They had 6 children together, the first of which, Bradford Scott Holgren, died in infancy.  As a military wife she also traveled to many locations in California, Japan, and Alexandria, Virginia.  She was a faithful wife and a caring, devoted, and loving mother.

Elizabeth's love of Jesus and the arts radiated from her throughout her life. She was beautiful, always had a spiritual lesson to share, winsome, theatrical, engaging, ever learning, ever writing, a great cook, an overcomer, always loving on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  Her infectious smile, twinkle in her eyes, slightly off-key singing, and joyful spirit will always be cherished.

A woman of deep faith and longing to follow the spiritual path of knowing and loving God, Elizabeth became a Third Order Lay Carmelite and spent most of her later years in service to the poor and marginalized.  Her deep love of the Carmelite spiritual way of life was evident in the way she perceived life as a blessing to be shared glorifying God.

Elizabeth is survived by former husband Captain Marvin A. Holgren (USN retired); sister, Margaret A. Schatz; daughters, Melanie (Keith) Frey, Marlis Holgren, and Meri (John) Kerekanich; sons, William Bradford (Melissa) Holgren and Robert Scott (Julie) Holgren; grandchildren, Michelle (Jason) Fortin, Jeffrey (Elena) Holgren, Christopher (Jodie) Holgren, Emily (Rich) Walker,  Bryan Holgren, Daniel Holgren, Sarah Holgren, Ashley Kerekanich, JD (Shannen) Kerekanich, and Myra Holgren; great grandchildren, Kenton Fortin, Camille Fortin, Kira Holgren, and Jonah Holgren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her son, parents, brother - George T. Boldizsar, and 2 nephews.

Visitation/viewing will be held at 10am, Funeral Mass at 11am, Monday, June 10, 2019 at San Rafael Catholic Church, 17252 Bernardo Center Dr, San Diego, CA 92128- Phone 858-487-4314 – Committal at 2:30pm at Mission San Luis Rey, 4050 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92057 –  Donations can be made in Elizabeth's name to San Rafael Catholic Church or Carmelite Monastery 5158 Hawley Blvd, San Diego, CA 92116, Phone 619-280-5424

Arrangements are entrusted to: Poway Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064, Phone 858-748-4101, Website: www.powaybernardomortuary.net