Ann Marie (Witmore) Holmes, age 82 of Cascade, passed away peacefully Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods. She was born in Fostoria, OH to Frances (Fry) and Hobart Witmore (both deceased) and was Valedictorian of her senior class at St. Wendelin High School, Fostoria. Pursuing her love of music, she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree from Mary Manse College, Toledo, OH in 1957; where she was also President of her senior class. A life-long Catholic, Mrs. Holmes strove for excellence, especially as a parish musician, to give honor and glory to God. She shared her gift of music as the organist for many churches, including St. Thomas Aquinas, Ann Arbor and Saginaw, MI and St. Patrick, Brighton, MI. She was also Director of Music at St. Robert of Newminster Church in Ada, MI for many years. She was a member of The American Guild of Organists, and was the Director of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, Grand Rapids Chapter from 1989-1993. She especially enjoyed singing for 25 years in the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, as well as in the choir of her home parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Grand Rapids. Mrs. Holmes was the music director for “Godspell”, “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Gypsy” productions at Forest Hills Central High School, Cascade (1978-1980), and taught private piano lessons for over 30 years. Ann also worked for Kent District Library in Cascade for nine years. Among her many volunteer positions, she was also on the MHC Patient and Family Advisory Council at Spectrum Health. She is survived by her devoted husband of 58 years Edward “Ted” Holmes; daughters Elizabeth (Greg) Hauger of Princeton, IN, Colleen Marie (Jay) Lowe of Grand Rapids, Mary “Kit” (Cynthia Millonzi) Holmes of Wimberley, TX; grandchildren Glen Michael Hauger of Indianapolis, IN, Christina Hauger of Evansville, IN, Nathan Holmes Lowe of Grand Rapids, Mitchell James Lowe of Ann Arbor; siblings Nancy (Roy – deceased) of Wooster, OH, Margaret (Tom) Wolph of Redding, CA, Dwayne (Vivian – deceased) Davenport of Denver, CO; sister-in-law Helen (Ed – deceased) Zalewski of Toledo, OH; also several nieces and nephews. Friends and relatives may visit Monday, October 2, 2-4:00 p.m. and 6-8:00 p.m., with Rosary recited at 7:30 p.m. at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd. S.E., Grand Rapids. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, October 3, 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, 1935 Plymouth Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids. Rev. Troy Nevins presiding. Private interment will be at Whitneyville Cemetery in Cascade Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Killgoar Foundation, in care of Immaculate Heart of Mary School, The American Heart Association, or the American Diabetes Association. Condolences may be sent online at gerstfuneralhomes.com
