Jordan L. Holly's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - Jordan L. Holly, 16, of Charleston, Illinois passed away in a tragic car accident on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. She was born on April 14, 2001 and is the daughter of Don Holly, professor of anthropology at Eastern Illinois University, and Kristen Holly, principal of Carl Sandburg Elementary. A member of Charleston High School's class of 2019, Jordan had just completed her sophomore year. She was a cheerleader and active member in her youth group at Salisbury Church. She loved hanging out with friends and family, babysitting, and shopping with her mother and sister. This past spring, she took a memorable family vacation to Marco Island and attended prom with her boyfriend, senior Bryce Frederick. Known for her kindness, her beauty, and ever-present smile, Jordan will be missed by many. Even those who briefly met her were struck by her vibrant presence.Jordan is survived by her parents, Don and Kristen, and her younger sister Katherine E. Holly. Other surviving relatives include grandmother Marlene ("Nini" ) Kirsch and step-grandfather Mike Kirsch of Pittsburgh, PA; grandmother Erika ("Omi" ) Holly of State College, PA; aunt Doreen Holly of Coatsville, PA; and uncle Rusty Nelson of Orlando, FL. "Fictive kin" close to Jordan include Uncle Mark, Aunt Carrie, and cousins Zoe, Isabel, and Quinn; Momma Conley and BFF Syd; Uncle Jon, Aunt Lee, and cousins Sarah and Sammy; and the family dog Nellie, a Newfoundland. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather Roland Nelson and her paternal grandfather Donald H. Holly, Sr., whom she called "Opa." Her many friends and family will forever remember how she was full of life and love. In the words of poet Seamus Heaney, "the space we stood around has been emptied / into us to keep." Public visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 26th and the memorial service will be on Saturday, May 27th at 11:00 a.m. Both will take place at Salisbury Church, 2350 Madison Avenue, Charleston. Jordan, who learned how to sign for the hearing impaired, wanted to work as a nurse for children with cancer. With this in mind, the Holly family request that donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Jordan's name. They can be left on the memorial table at the visitation or service, or may be mailed in care of Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920.Click to view Family Memorial Video. SERVICES Visitation Friday, May 26, 2017 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Salisbury Church 2350 Madison Avenue Charleston, Illinois 61920 Memorial Service Saturday, May 27, 2017 11:00 AM Salisbury Church 2350 Madison Avenue Charleston, Illinois 61920
What’s your fondest memory of Jordan?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jordan?
Share a story where Jordan's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jordan you’ll never forget.
How did Jordan make you smile?