Marilyn C. Holman

Marilyn C. (Peck) Holman, 75, a longtime Upton resident, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at the Milford Regional Medical Center.

Born in Queens, New York, Marilyn grew up in New York, New Jersey, and Indiana. She was a graduate of Ramapo High School in Oakland, New Jersey and Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was in Indiana, where she met her late husband, Alfred C. Holman. They were married for 53 years.

During the earlier years of their marriage, Al and Marilyn lived near Oakland, California for a time where they welcomed their son, Andrew Holman. In 1987, they relocated to Upton, Massachusetts.

Al and Marilyn were the owners of the Town Crier Publications for 33 years. They founded The Upton Town Crier in 1993 as a once-monthly publication, and The Mendon Town Crier in 1995, also once-monthly. In 1998, they combined the rapidly growing newspaper into The Mendon & Upton Town Crier and began distributing it bi-weekly to nearly 6,000 addresses. The Milford Town Crier, established in 2007, added a distribution of nearly 13,000 to homes and businesses. Combined with out-of-town subscriptions and advertisers, the total distribution grew to over 20,000 community newspapers. Readers and their families could see their child’s graduation spread at the end of the school year, could keep up on local town meetings, and could find local established businesses as well as learn about new ones in The Advertiser’s Club. Marilyn wore a number of hats in the management of the paper over the years, including serving as editor, writer, advertising creator, and layout and design. Every other Monday, a group of volunteer proof-readers from the neighborhood would gather in her living room, enjoying a few minutes of chatting over coffee before getting down to the quiet business of proofreading.

Throughout the years, Marilyn was very active in the Upton community, and was especially proud of being a member of the United Parish of Upton Church. She was also in the Upton Bloomer Girls, Upton Woman’s Club, the Greenleaf Garden Club in Milford, the Milford Chamber of Commerce, and the Salvation Army. She enjoyed attending painting classes at the Upton Center in her later years. She and her husband supported the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra and were regular attendees at their concerts.

Marilyn loved being near or in any body of water, but especially spending time at the beach or floating in Pratt Pond. She was also extremely creative and dabbled in a variety of mediums including water colors and oil painting, stained glass, shell-painting, Christmas ornaments, and sea-glass jewelry making. For a time, she marketed some of her beautiful artwork and jewelry creations at a few local shops and holiday craft shows under the name “Shellscapes by Marilyn”.

Marilyn is survived by her son Andrew Holman of Milford, niece, Laura Graetz and nephew, Matthew Peck of Florida, and brother-in-law David Holman of McCordsville, Indiana. She has three nieces in the Holman family, as well as Peck family cousins in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, California, and Maryland. Some of Marilyn’s most treasured time was spent attending many annual Peck Family reunions in Jamesport on Long Island, where all the Pecks gathered at their family cottage and spent wonderful times together.

Marilyn’s memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 20, in the United Parish of Upton Church, 1 Church St. Upton. A collation will immediately follow the memorial service. All are invited.

A private, family burial will take place on a later date in Jamesport, Long Island.

The Pickering & Son Upton Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the Holman family with funeral arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to the Salvation Army, 25 Shawmut Rd. Canton, MA 02021, or to the Upton Bloomer Girls, P. O. Box 121, Upton, MA 01568.

To view Marilyn's service livestream, please visit United Parish of Upton YouTube