Elizabeth Jean Holloway

Elizabeth “Bette” (Chicoski) Holloway, the beloved wife of nearly 58 years to her husband and best friend Thomas “Tom” Holloway, cherished mother, grandmother, sister, and lifelong friend to many, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024 with her family at her bedside following a recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Bette was born Elizabeth Jean Chicoski on January 16, 1946 to Joseph and Stephanie (Wisneski) Chicoski, at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut—the same hospital at which she would start her nursing career and become a mother. Bette’s childhood in Beacon Falls was enriched by the love of her parents, brothers, and two Polish-speaking grandmothers, with one of whom, Antonia, she shared a precious bond until her passing in 1961. 

After eight years at St. Hedwig School in Union City, Bette attended Waterbury Catholic High School for Young Women until she excitedly graduated in 1963 to pursue her dreams of becoming a Registered Nurse. She received her certification from St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing in Bridgeport in 1966, embarking on a lifelong career of providing compassionate care in various capacities—including 13 years at Griffin Hospital, 11 years in convalescent care as a nursing supervisor, followed by director roles at East Hill Woods in Southbury, where she would work until joining her daughter’s medical practice in Newtown, a role Bette enjoyed for several years before moving to Maryland to provide care to her two youngest grandchildren.

Bette was very dedicated to and proud of her life’s work as a caregiver, with a keen focus on eldercare and hospice care, sharing with the world her deeply compassionate, merciful nature and an unwavering, infectious faith that assisted hundreds of patients along their end-of-life journeys.

Before embarking on her 40+-year nursing career, Bette met her husband Tom in 1959 at a local kielbasa festival and reunited with him a year later when they danced the night away at a friend’s birthday party. Theirs was a love story for the books and realizing they had found true love, the pair engaged on May 20, 1965 after Tom was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant from the United States Army. Tom and Bette married on September 3, 1966 in Beacon Falls, where they had spent their respective childhoods, would start their family, and live until 1979 when they moved to Southbury into a home they built together and would enjoy for 33 years.

In 2012, Tom and Bette moved to Essex, Maryland, settling in their cozy cottage overlooking the Chesapeake Bay—here they spent time boating, exploring, and countless hours peacefully admiring the views, sunsets, flowers, gardens, and wildlife surrounding them. It was with much gratitude that Bette was able to spend the last weeks of her life overlooking this simple beauty.

Throughout her life, Bette enjoyed reading, cooking, vacationing on the Cape where she and Tom honeymooned, boating the Chesapeake Bay on her pontoon, honoring her strong Catholic faith, serving as a Reiki Master, traveling to sunny beaches, watching The Fox News Channel and romantic Hallmark movies, and always appreciating shared food and wine along the way. Bette was unrestrained in what she believed and doing what was right for her and family, but still lived in faithfulness to her principles—just weeks prior to her passing, Bette even remarked that she had no regrets in her lifetime.

But by far her greatest joy in life was her family… nothing was more important to her than the husband, children, and grandchildren she loved so fiercely. Tom and Bette would go on to share nearly six decades of best friendship, love, romance, dancing, laughter, and cherished memories—even up to the last moments of Bette’s life with Tom faithfully by her side providing great comfort and care.

As a loving mother, Bette was the heart and soul of her family, a true matriarch who treasured her role as a mother to her three children—and found immense joy in nurturing and guiding them through their life journeys. For the last 26 years, she proudly took on the role of Babci, aka “Baba,” to seven grandchildren—taking them for outings, enjoying endless hugs and cuddles, brightening the precious moments of their young lives, and tending to their needs from infancy into adulthood. As a Baba she was most content lending a soft shoulder and sound advice, and sharing stories of their latest accomplishments and adventures!

Bette’s unconditional love, support, advocacy, protection, and comradery knew no bounds, and her legacy of compassion and strength will live on through her children: Thomas (Tamara) Holloway, Jennifer Holloway, and Jamie (Bill) Dowling—and her treasured grandchildren: Sarah Mastroianni (26), Brianna Mastroianni (23), Joseph Mastroianni (20), Andrew Holloway (17), Jack Holloway (15), Griffin Dowling (11), and Arden Rose Dowling (7).

Bette’s presence also brought warmth and joy to family gatherings throughout the years as a sister to her brothers: Joseph (Kathy) Chicoski, Robert (Nina) Chicoski, and Raymond (Kathleen) Chicoski. Bette will also be remembered by countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends.

To celebrate Bette’s beautiful life for which she felt most blessed, a memorial funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph Church-Fullerton, 8420 Belair Road, Nottingham, MD 21236, on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery followed by a luncheon gathering. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Little Sisters of the Poor in Baltimore, a cause close to Bette’s heart, or the charity of your choice.

The family extends its sincerest gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and aides from Gilchrist hospice who cared so gently and lovingly for their wife, mother, and grandmother. After dedicating her life to the care of others, it was now her time to be cared for, and it brought them much peace to know she received the same quality of care she so willingly gave.

Bette will be dearly missed but never forgotten; may her legacy of love, kindness, and compassion continue to inspire all who were touched by her presence.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.