Barbara Erb Holran, 90

March 18, 1934 - January 08, 2025

Barbara Erb Holran passed peacefully on Wednesday January 8, 2025 with family by her side. Born in Lancaster County, PA on March 18, 1934, she was the only child of Ann (Singer) and John P. Erb. She was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Bruce G. Holran.

Barbara grew up in the Lititz area surrounded by beautiful gardens, boxwood hedges filled with tulips and roses planted by her father’s and uncle’s business, Erb Brothers Landscaping. She graduated from Manheim Township High school in 1952 and attended Millersville University.

Following the footsteps of her aunts, Lily and Emma, Barbara became a nurse, graduating from Lancaster General School of Nursing in 1955. She first worked at Lancaster General Hospital, then Germantown Hospital in Philadelphia and later in private practice. She loved the bright white uniforms and truly took care of her patients as well as her colleagues.

Because of her love of reading, Barbara considered becoming a librarian prior to becoming a nurse. One could always find her sitting and reading a book in her spare time as she was curious and a sponge for knowledge. She honored her passion for reading with generous support of the Lancaster Public Library helping with the annual book sale and establishing an endowment. She volunteered for the Literacy Council and helped adults learn to read as well as taught English as a second language. At any move, the hardest thing for her to pare down was her library. She continued to enjoy reading recipes long after she stopped cooking.

Barbara was a natural in the kitchen. She mastered traditional family menus and hosted many holiday feasts and dinner parties. She loved trying new things and offered her recipes to community cookbooks.

She found great joy and peace in nature whether in the family woods north of Lititz or the mountains of the Adirondacks. She and Bruce (a Colgate grad) annually took their family to Colgate University Camp on Upper Saranac Lake. They loved the area so much, they bought a cabin nearby and spent their retirement years there May through October sharing the woods and waterways with family and friends. She also volunteered at the Visitor Interpretation Center (VIC) at Paul Smiths College and at the Saranac Lake Public Library. She passionately worked for conservation of Lancaster woodlands.

Barbara was a member of Highland Presbyterian Church for nearly 60 years and helped start the food cupboard suppling groceries to local food banks. She volunteered for several organizations including The Junior League and the LGH Auxiliaries.

She loved symphonies, opera, musicals (her favorite was Cats), and Willie Nelson as well as ice hockey and knitting. In her later years she learned to enjoy baseball. She was quite fond of animals, especially chipmunks, and her many pets over the years including dogs Pepper and Mr. Beckett, cats Poco, Molly, Trinket, and Gidget, as well as Freddy the frog.

Above all else, she cherished time with her family. She is survived by her children: Jeffrey J. Himes and his wife, Claudia (nee Cook), Lancaster; Holly A. Himes and her husband Paul Giacomantonio, Oroville, CA; Jill Holran Kurash, Royalton VT; Peter T. Holran and his wife, Pamela (nee Gaary), Falls Church, VA; and Elizabeth D. Holran, Falls Church, VA; and her grandchildren Carolyn and Gaarison Holran and Erica and Evan Kurash and a sister-in-law Joan Benneyan in Vermont, along with many close friends.

Her family is grateful for the dedicated care provided by the entire team at Masonic Village Health Center including the aides, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, and the food service workers.

To honor Barbara, consider a donation to your local library or food bank, read a book, take a walk in the woods and enjoy a good meal with a friend. Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life on at 11:00 a.m. Saturday April 12, 2025 at Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 E Roseville Rd, Lancaster PA 17601. To view the service online please visit Highland Presbyterian Church for a livestream of the service.

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