Ethel Pappas Hollingsworth

Eleftheria a/k/a Ethel Pappas Hollingsworth, 88, of Coconut Creek, left this earth for peace in Heaven on Thursday, August 30, 2012. She was born on September 27, 1923, in Boston, Massachusetts. On April 7, 1945, she married a handsome sailor in the US Navy by the name of Dorris a/k/a Danny Quitman Hollingsworth (8/12/1925-2/8/1992). They lived in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Louisiana, and eventually settled in Florida. They had three children: Janice, Donnie and Mark. Janice passed away at the age of 20 years old, two months after giving birth to a baby girl, Rachelle. Ethel & Danny immediately adopted Rachelle and began raising her as their own. Ethel was an extraordinary woman. She ran our family, handled everything and always put her children’s needs first, above her own. She has endured more than any parent should have to. As mentioned above, she lost her daughter, Janice, in 1967 (4/15/1947-12/6/1967) and her son, Donnie Hollingsworth, in 2010 (6/1/1951-7/27/2010). Donnie was a Vietnam Veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange, which years later lead to his untimely death. Ethel missed her son, Donnie, terribly and longed to see him again. In 2004, Ethel’s right arm was amputated and she eventually became wheelchair bound. She was a resident at THC in Coconut Creek from 2005 through her passing on August 30, 2012. She had many friends at THC and enjoyed playing bingo, going to music activities, doing arts and crafts and cruising the hallways in her electric scooter. She also loved going on outings to the Casino, Festival Flea Market and restaurants. She loved shopping and buying clothes, and she especially loved collecting angels. Ethel brought joy to everyone she touched. She was known for making people laugh. She always spoke her mind and said it like it was, no matter what. She had an incredibly sharp mind and remembered EVERYTHING! Sadly, last year on September 15, 2011, she suffered a stroke which affected the left side of her body and she no longer had use of her left arm and leg. She was a fighter. She never gave up and insisted that one day she would get back in her electric wheelchair. Although that day never came, she still kept fighting and never gave up hope. Ethel is predeceased by her parents, Louis Anastas Pappas and Sophia Vaselio Pappas (both originally from Greece), her brother, George, and sister, Dorothy, along with her husband, Danny, and children, Janice & Donnie. Ethel is survived by her brother Peter a/ka/ Bobby Pappas (Joan) and her remaining children, Mark Hollingsworth (Liz) and Rachelle Hollingsworth Brannen (Robert). Ethel was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Grandchildren from Donnie: Donna & Kristy; great grandchildren from Donna: Jazmine, Amanda, Brandon, Tommy, Emma & Raylan; great grandchildren from Kristy: Adrian, Johnny, JJ, Gebo & Melody. Grandchildren from Mark: Ann, Mark, Jr., Joe & Don; great grandchildren from Ann: Kelsey, Tyler & Nishelle; great grandchildren from Mark, Jr.: Shianne & Brianna; great grandchildren from Joe: Joseph, Jr. Grandchildren from Rachelle: Heather, Troy & Tara Mom/Nana, you may be gone, but you are not forgotten. Your spirit will forever live within our hearts. We love you dearly and now have our memories of you to treasure forever in our hearts.

Ethel Pappas Hollingsworth

September 27, 1923 - August 30, 2012