Obituary of Cecile Holt

Cecile M. Holt ALLEGANY – Cecile M. Holt of North First Street died Sunday June 19, 2005 at the Olean General Hospital. Born in Buffalo, NY on April 9, 1908 she was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Knopinski Okpisc. She married Philip J. Holt who predeceased her after 60 years of marriage in 1994. She was a graduate of Mary Immaculate Academy (now Mt. St. Mary's) and Buffalo State Normal, the year it became Buffalo State College and Fredonia College. Her 15 years teaching in Buffalo Schools were in schools 12 and 56 and the former J.N. Adams Sanitarium where she provided tutoring for healing high school students She moved to Derby, NY in 1941 and became principal of Evans #6, a primary school. The school later became part of the Lake Shore Central School. She continued there for 18 years. In retirement she pursued courses in Art and became a member of the Evans Art Guild. She volunteered at Claddagh, a community for the mentally challenged and at St. Vincent Parochial School where she provided art instruction. In 1994 following the death of her husband she moved to Allegany to live with her daughter. Her volunteering continued with a drawing class for seniors at Eden Heights, visits to a group home and as a receptionist at the Regina Quick Arts Center at St. Bonaventure University. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters, an honorary member of the Allegany State Park Historical Society, the Allegany Historical Society and the New York State Teachers Retirement Society. She is survived by a daughter Margaret "Peggy" Reynolds of Allegany, three grandchildren, six great grand children and five great great grandchildren. In addition to her husband she was predeceased by two brothers Leonard Okpisc and Alfred Owen. There will be no public visitations. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Bonaventure Church, Allegany, NY. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 West State Rd., Olean.