Miriam Davida ROTMAN

Notes:

Name:
EAST PEORIA, IL - Miriam D. Holden, 88, formerly of Peoria, died at 10:20 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, at Rosewood Care Center in East Peoria.

She was born Aug. 28, 1920, in Chicago to David B. and Rhea Rotman.

She earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in psychology from the University of Chicago and worked as a child psychologist for the Evanston School District before moving to Peoria with her husband, Lawrence B. Holden, M.D., Peoria's first neurosurgeon. They wed in Chicago on Dec. 24, 1944. He preceded her in death on Feb. 14, 1986.

She also was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Ruth Rotman and Georgine Kavka, M.D.

She is survived by her brother, Danny Rotman of Aventura, Fla.; and her five children, Rhea Holden of Phoenix, Ariz., Eric (Lisa) Holden of River Ridge, La., Judith (Donald) Richards of Meyersville, N.J., Michael Holden of Peoria, Ill., and David (Carol) Holden of Washington, Ill. She also is survived by her six grandchildren and stepgrandchildren, Mirais and Emory Holden of Louisiana, David and Donald Richards of New Jersey, Christopher (Brooke) White of Seattle, Wash., and Caitlin (Aaron) Greenwood of Washington, Ill.; and three great-grandchildren, Charlotte White, and Alysa and Austin Greenwood.

She was very active in the Peoria area mental health community and was President of the Peoria County Mental Health Society for many years. She helped establish a program for forgotten patients at Bartonville State Hospital and was instrumental in the development of the Zeller Zone Center.

She loved the Arts and artists and clung to life tenaciously.

During her final illness, when asked if she were ready to die, her response was, "Bull----!" She was true to herself until the end.

Private services will be at a later date.

The Wilton Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the United Way.

Published in the Peoria Journal Star on 1/25/2009

Posted on Find A Grave
Maintained by: Topperlove
Originally Created by: jeanette

Family/Spouse: Dr. Lawrence Burt HOLDEN. Lawrence (son of Arthur Wallace HOLDEN and Laura BENEDICT) was born on 24 Jan 1919 in Fayetteville, Onondaga Co., New York; died on 14 Feb 1986 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Illinois; was buried in Fayetteville Cemetery, Fayetteville, Onondaga Co., New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]