Mary Ann Holbrook, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to so many, passed away unexpectedly on June 26, 2025. She was 88 years old.

Born on February 7, 1937, she was raised in Baltimore, MD by her parents George and Stella (Sepanski) Manz. She graduated from Bon Secours Hospital School of Nursing at Johns Hopkins. Eager to explore beyond the Baltimore area, she moved to Miami, FL with her classmate Helene (O'Rourke) Devine. Her sights were set on becoming an international travel nurse. Through Helene and her then fiancé, George, she met George's roommate, David Holbrook, and the two quickly became a couple. Firm in her intention and never one to waste time, within four months Mary Ann and David eloped and married in New York City on January 21, 1961, with George and Helene by their side.

They settled in Silver Spring, MD for a very short while and moved to Hanover, NH to be near David's family, as his mother was gravely ill. In 1964, they built their home on Ledge Road and started their family. Pamela was born in 1964 and Christopher in 1968.

Preferring warm weather, never did Mary Ann think she would spend 64 years in New Hampshire and the Upper Valley. Nonetheless, she embraced a full and productive life in the community. She volunteered for organizations including the American Red Cross, many years with the Ford Sayre Ski Club, and most of her kids' activities. She was active in the women's tennis league, playing matches a couple of days a week until she was 82 years old.

Wonderful entertainers and excellent cooks, Mary Ann and David hosted many lively parties, and they enjoyed a vast social circle. Back in the day, they were known for their Thursday night parties. Their door was always open for an impromptu cocktail or meal. As a family, the Holbrooks led an active life with friends and extended family, particularly enjoying skiing, hiking, and traveling around the country and internationally.

In the mid-1970s, Mary Ann returned to work at Mary Hitchcock as a discharge planning nurse, while taking courses at UNH to earn her BS in Nursing. Following this, she became a nurse in the Neurology department at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for the next 20 years with her beloved crew on 5W.

Mary Ann retired in 1995. She and David traveled extensively, driving across the country numerous times, each time taking a different route, and they traveled around the world with friends. Following the death of her parents and David in 2001, Mary Ann channeled her time and energy into her community and clubs. She was an active member of the International Women's Club, the Hanover Garden Club, Osher at Dartmouth, PEO, and the Norwich Women's Club. Through the UVM extension program, she became a Master Gardener. She designed and maintained the Norwich Triangle Garden from 2006 – 2024. She loved her nickname as Queen Bee and her 'worker bees' who kept the garden so beautiful for all to enjoy. She was a mah jongg teacher for IWC and Osher, and she played weekly with a couple of groups. She was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Hanover.

She is predeceased by her parents and her husband, David, and is survived by her daughter Pamela Holbrook (Mark), son Christopher Holbrook (Grace), grandchildren Allison and Jay Mobilia and Tyler Holbrook, Mark's sons, Nathan (Meghan, Rose and Aldina) and Evan (Emily), her brother George Manz (Evon) and great niece Allison Manz Jones and her family.

Like the beautiful gardens she cared so much for, she has departed as vibrant, bright and beautiful as ever. A celebration of Mary Ann's life will be held at the Norwich Inn on Saturday Sept. 27th from 11:00am to 2:00pm. All who knew and loved Mary Ann are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Mary Ann's honor to the charity of choice.

An online guest book is available to leave Mary Ann's family a message of condolence by visiting rand-wilson.com.