Obituary of Frederick Hollis

Frederick Joseph Hollis passed away peacefully and surrounded by his loving family on the 26th of August 2009. He was holding the hands of his two oldest granddaughters, Debi and Ann Marie while they sang his favorite song to him. Fred was predeceased by his wife and best friend of 60 years Annice Hollis.

He was born on 10 Oct. 1919 in Providence, RI. He resided in Riverside, RI until moving to CT in 1954. He remained in CT until 1983 and then retired to FL where he and Annice spent many happy years. He returned to CT in 1998 after her death.

Fred proudly served in the US military, first as a member of the Army National Guard and then on the USS Salem with the Navy from 1943 until 1951. He served in WWII and Korea. Fred worked at Pratt & Whitney for 22 years. He also had many other jobs including Continental Bakery, A & P Warehouse and Hartford Distributors. Fred also volunteered many hours helping friends and neighbors with any chore they needed. He was a proud member of the Machinist Union and the Teamsters and also a member of the VFW Post 2083 of East Hartford. Fred loved the racetrack, the casino, Bingo, scratch tickets and any game of chance, he was always going to win that million dollars. He could just feel it! Fred's greatest and proudest accomplishment in life was his family.

He leaves to mourn his beloved children and their spouses whom he would never call in laws, but considered hi s sons and daughters as well, Frederick Hollis and his wife Millie of Twin Mt NH, John Hollis and his wife Lori of East Hartford, Barbara Dettore and her husband Edward of Manchester, Claire Rathbun and her husband Thomas of South Windsor, Debbie Rutledge of Tolland, Rosemary Jutras of Manchester, and Donna Hollis of Glastonbury. Fred was predeceased by his son Gerald Hollis. He also leaves 18 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson. Fred was the youngest child of John and Julia (Sullivan) Hollis and was predeceased by his six sisters and four brothers.

It is hard to put into words the kind of man Fred was but, for those of us that knew and loved him there is no kinder or gentler man. He always had a story or a joke or a solid piece of advice for you. He loved to sing and in fact wrote a song and sang it to every one of his grandchildren over and over again. He will be dearly missed but his legacy will live on in every life that he touched most especially his beloved family. His fingerprints are on our hearts.

The family would like to thank the nurses, aides and staff at Manchester Manor for the love and care they gave to him. We know Fred is happy and in a better place now. It is comforting to know that he will be waiting for us with his arms open and a song on his lips.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday (September 1st) at 11 am at the Church of the Assumption 27 Adams St. South, Manchester. The John F. Tierney Funeral Home, Manchester has care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.