Jeanne Émilie Holmes of Rochester passed away Thursday, November 1, 2018 at Seasons Hospice from complications due to a recent stroke.  She left this life with her children by her side and with the dignity that defined her.

She was born on March 1, 1927 in Namur, Belgium where, in addition to attending school, she worked in her parent's hotel.  She fell in love with an American soldier who was part of the United States operation that had liberated Namur.  On May 19, 1945, she married that soldier, William J. Holmes. For the next two years, they lived in Brussels, Belgium, and Dijon and Paris, France.

After arriving by boat in New York Harbor with thousands of other war brides, she and her husband briefly lived in Toronto, Canada before moving to Rochester, Minnesota in 1947.  In addition to raising a family, she was an active volunteer for several organizations, including serving as a volunteer Mayo Clinic Interpreter to French-speaking cardiac surgery patients and their families.  Her impeccable taste and sense of style led to an early interior decorating stint with locally-known Gene Undeen and a later art consultancy role with Val Webb Art Galleries.

Jeanne had an amazing ability to make friends; her beautiful smile, Belgian accent, her sincere interest in others and willingness to help others enabled her to build a warm circle of enduring friendships that continued up until she died.

She is survived by her son, Michael (Leah) of Rochester; daughter, Michele (Don) Van Dyke of Raleigh, N.C.; three grandchildren, Ann and Sara Holmes, and Charles Van Dyke, and sister-in-law, Jean MacNeill of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada.  She is preceded in death by her parents, brother, and husband, William.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 9, 2018 at the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Rochester, MN with Rev. Shawn Haremza officiating. Visitation will begin an hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Saint Francis, Assisi Heights, Rochester, Minnesota or to a charity of one's choosing.