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From:
[Lynette Holdsworth]
Gislinde Holdsworth, my Sister-in-Law
During the last couple of years, I’ve read several books recounting “Near Death Experiences” from people located all over the world and from many different religious faiths. In virtually all the stories of their spirit body being temporarily separated from their physical body, when their spirit had to enter back into their physical body, they said there were two things they wanted to change or improve while they were back in this life – LEARNING & LOVING. As I learned of Gislinde’s very unexpected passing, I thought back on those two action verbs, LEARNING & LOVING, and recognized that Gislinde had left an amazing legacy of both of those. She truly possessed the gift to focus on the things that matter most while she was here with us.
LEARNING: She married a U.S. serviceman, learned his native language, moved to an English-speaking country where she enthusiastically bore and raised children, volunteered for many functions and events, and from time to time worked outside the home. She became a powerhouse in the kitchen and had an endless bundle of energy for that - no matter the size of the crowd or the lack of advance notice. How many 83-yr olds do you know that can REALLY work a cell phone, including getting around social media? I don’t think any question I ever asked her went unanswered as she was an instant resource. If I asked “how can I get my hair to stop falling out?”, within minutes she shared product photos and website links. If I asked “how can I get on that trans-Atlantic 14-hr flight if I’m suffering from a newly-acquired anxiety to fly”, she instantly suggested remedies to help me overcome the fear…..etc. etc. etc.
LOVING: She deeply loved ALL family, immediate and extended, including her ancestors. On one visit Bruce and I made to their home in Jacksonville, we were having a discussion on Dave’s ancestors and then subsequently, she pulled out her phone and shared photos and the details of how her German family members remember their ancestors and regularly celebrate their lives. I was touched by the deep connections she felt to her roots and will always cherish her recounting those customs to me.
She was so good at ensuring others felt loved and accepted exactly as they are. She made remembering others a priority. She proved it again to me this past year. On my birthday in November, I saw an email in my inbox from her. I actually at first panicked that something was wrong because I knew she and Dave were on a cruise deep in the South Pacific – somewhere between the Hawaiian Islands and Fiji or Tahiti. And alas, I got birthday wishes from her on my exact day! Very Gislinde! So what if I had 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 4 siblings out there…. she was ensuring I felt remembered and valued by her on my birthday! And that is not an isolated example. After meeting her in person for the first time in 2017, she has very intentionally made sure I knew on countless occasions that she loved and cared about me. It’s been said that we come to love someone because of the way they make us feel when we’re with them… I felt loved with every interaction I had with her – including just via a phone call.
What a beautiful woman, a beautiful sister-in-law, a beautiful friend.
A treasured truth shared by someone else I love goes like this: “The only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life.”
I would certainly not be willing to take away the love she shared with me here, so I will look forward to the enjoyment of being with her again when I get to where she is. I know she will make me laugh again; her fabulous sense of humor is just going to increase between now and then.
From:
[Bruce Holdsworth]
Gislinde, Gislinde. Where to begin?
You are missed, but never forgotten. I remember the first time we met. Dave was going to the Naval Language School in Monterey California and I had flown from Alaska for a visit after a short visit in San Diego (breaking up with a girlfriend). This would have been about 1972. I also had not seen Dave in a number of years; however, we did talk via an Army com center aboard my ship in the Mekong 1969 when Dave was at some Hell hole up country. Anyway back to Gislinde. I had called and was expected. The door opens and I was greeted by this gorgeous babe (hey I’m 24). “Um, is this the David Holdsworth residence?” Can’t be! “Of course Bruce, welcome!” Big hug. Thinking, “Dave I don’t know how you did it, but you hit the jackpot!”
Almost immediately and as the years passed it became self evident that there was much more than physical beauty, a complete package so well detailed/described by Lynette and I agree to the decimal point so I won’t attempt to plagiarize.
As you know, Gislinde had a keen sense of humor with surprising timing. Dining at Dave’s and Linde’s one evening, I asked Linde if she knew a Doctor (nameless to protect the innocent) who had an office in the building where I was working. I asked because Linde was working for Dr. Reinbold and they may have crossed paths. She stated that they had met at a banquet and sat next to him and his wife. I had seen the doctor’s wife in my building on a number of occasions so I asked what she thought of her. Calmly she said, “She was the one wearing the catch me F’ me dress.” I spit my drink halfway across the table. Totally unexpected, described to a T.
I will unabashedly plagiarize the following poem:
YOU ARE MISSED
You filled the world with special joy
and happiness untold.
You always had a sunny way
and a loving heart of gold.
You made life so much brighter,
just by being thoughtful too
and saying kind and helpful things
was typical of you.
That’s why it’s hard to face the world
and know you won’t be there,
lighting up life so warmly
with your smile beyond compare.
The memories you’ve left behind
grow sweeter day by day
but you are missed, more
than any words can say.
From:
[Bernadette & Barry McCann]
In February 1983 we moved into a house on Pennsboro Court Chantilly Virgina, a few doors away from Linde, Dave, Eileen & Katya. Being both military families we connected instantly and continued our friendship over the many years. Linde was a warm and loving friend with a great sense of humor, hospitality and genuine love of others. Since we were both from "across the pond" we had a great understanding of life in Europe which made for great conversation about our youth, which was very similar in many ways. Linde will be forever in my heart.
From:
[Birgit Babilon]
Niemals vergesse ich die schöne gemeinsame Zeit mit Dave und Gislinde.Diese beiden herzensguten Menschen ermöglichten mir, als Frau von Gislindes Neffen Hermann eine andere Welt kennen zu lernen. Das erste Mal machten wir 1972 Urlaub bei ihnen in Kalifornien 1980 mit unserer kleinen Tochter in Alaska und danach mit und später auch ohne Kinder unzählige Male in Florida. Wir wurden stets liebevoll aufgenommen umsorgt und behütet.Ich habe mich immer rundum wohlgefühlt. All die schönen Erinnerungen und die damit verbundenen Anekdoten ob mit den beiden in Amerika und auch Deutschland werde ich für immer im Herzen bewahren. Ich bin sehr dankbar, dass ich über meinen Mann so zwei liebe Menschen kennen und lieben lernen durfte. Gislinde war für mich wie eine Mutter, Schwester und Freundin, ich vermisse unser sonntägliches FaceTime so sehr, sie fehlt mir unsagbar.
From:
[Christian Wingo]
Hi, I’m Gislinde Holdsworth's grandson, Christian Wingo. I am 12 years old, and Gislinde has been the best Oma I could ever have. Rest in peace.
From:
[Juan Diaz- Holdsworth]
Oma was the kindest woman I have ever known. She was not only the matriarch of this family but the warmth and light of it as well. She was always supportive and loving to all her family and friends. This was evident even in the final days of her life, in her last words, when she asked me to promise her that I would be happy in life. This showed a remarkable grandmother that I will never forget. I know she is with God now.
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