Rachel (Thelma Holly) ( Spencer ) Roberts, 108, The Netherlands
Rachel Holly Spencer Roberts, 108, formerly of Bradford
Living niece, Sandy Postlewait, great niece, Pam Redmond, and great nephew, Mike Postlewait and their families of Port Allegany
Monday morning June 19, our dear mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mother-in-law died peacefully in her sleep at care center Maria Oord in Vinkeveen, The Netherlands. She had been living nearby in Abcoude with her daughter Sally Montoya for several years.
Rachel was born December 30,1914, in Bradford, PA, the second youngest of seven children of Edwin and Susie Belle (Washburn) Holly.
In her 108 years, Rachel was witness to many historic events. One of her first memories was of her father waking her up to watch the fireworks at the end of World War I. She watched how proudly her mother dressed in her Sunday best to vote for the very first time after the 19th amendment was passed in 1920. She also claimed to have seen the very first Zippo lighter when its inventor wandered into her workplace in Bradford, PA to show off his windproof lighter.