Vera Holder is a child of God member a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She knew that God loveth all his children. Vera was a serious scriptorian and knew her King James bible and Book of Mormon.
Vera Lillian Maxwell Holder passed away Sat. Feb. 5th, from complications of cancer. She was born on June 15th, 1963, the daughter of Ella Goldstein Maxwell and John Maxwell in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Vera grew up in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and graduated from Kent, a boarding school in Connecticut.
Vera attended Smith College, in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she received a Bachelor's degree with a double major in Comparative Literature and Comparative Religion in 1985. While she was at Smith, she encountered missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and joined the Church in 1983.
After graduating from college, she served as a missionary for the Church in the France, Paris Mission. Following her mission, she attended Rutger's University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, for her Master's and Doctorate degrees in Education. Just as she was completing her dissertation, she moved from New Brunswick to Riverdale Park, Maryland, where she finished her degree and then accepted a position at the Counseling Center of the University of Maryland, College Park.
She met her husband, Michael, at Church, and they were married in the Washington, D.C. Temple in 1997, and settled in College Park, Maryland. In 2002, they adopted their three children, Katarina, Christopher, and Alexei, from Russia. Later they relocated to Buena Vista, Virginia. The family moved from Virginia to Jamesport, Missouri, then on to Maryville in 2014.
Throughout her life, Vera enjoyed traveling, museums, reading, writing and singing. She also enjoyed genealogy, especially searching for her Russian ancestors. Recently she published a book on Amazon. "I can do hard things", in which she shares her journey with cancer and her family.
Vera treasured family time, family dinners, game nights and day trips. Having her table full of family and friends was one of her greatest joys. Most of all, it was her time with her granddaughter Eva she loved the most. Those trips to the library were a favorite.
Vera always saw the good in people. She was so very kind and someone you could trust. She deeply cared about others and her faith. Her smile would make you feel so comforted and loved. She will be missed by the many people who loved her.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, her sister-in-law Hope Maxwell and her father-in-law, Tommy Holder. She is survived by her husband Michael, her three children, Katerina, Maryville, Christopher and wife Jessica, Buena Vista, Virginia, and Alexei, Maryville, and her very beloved granddaughter, Eva.
Burial will take place, Friday, Feb. 11th. 2:00 PM Oak Hill Cemetery, Maryville. Memorial Service will take place Saturday, Feb. 12 1:00 PM The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Maryville.