Michael Holliday Obituary

Michael L. Holliday

Jun 27, 1942 - Apr 26, 2024

Castalia

In loving memory of Michael L. Holliday who walked through the doorway of Eternity at 8 p.m. Friday, April 26, 2024.

He leaves behind his beloved sisters, Connie, Phyliss, and Toni Marie; children, Michelle, Mike, and Martina; grandchild, Kayliegh; and great-grandchildren, Bryson, Iyla and Ryliegh.

We pray he will be greeted in Heaven by his mother, Francis; father, Billie; and sister, Carol.

Michael lived a life in service to others. He served in U.S. military as a x-ray technician from April 1964 - April 1966 in active duty and served in the reserves until April, 1970. After his military service, he became a Waukegan, Illinois Police Officer until 1990. From there, he moved to Sandusky and worked at Sandusky Veterans Home until his retirement in 2002. My Dad, Michael, was a man who wore his Catholic faith on his sleeve. When he was a child, he would attend church by himself because he loved Mass so very much. This continued his entire life as he would go to Mass whenever he could. One of the great joys for Dad was receiving Holy Communion especially with his family.

He had a fondness for both St. Mary's Catholic Church and The Sorrowful Mother Shrine. Dad, Michael, also loved to read. He had books galore. His favorite book in particular was the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina and one of his favorite prayers was the Divine Mercy Chaplet. You could also find great Catholic Books on his shelves by the likes of Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen, Dr. Scott Hohn, the Navarre Bibles, and more. He knew intuitively that the real truth about life could be found all through the thousands of resources of the Catholic tradition. Dad took seriously the passing down of the Catholic faith. As very young children, he taught all of us to pray, from grace at every meal to tucking us in at night and reciting our bedtime prayers. He also took us to Mass every Sunday and constantly talked about how much Jesus loved us. Once dad retired, he became an usher at St. Mary's Catholic Church until he reached the point where he could no longer walk the aisles due to health issues.

He gave his all to serve as best he could. Dad also had a very playful side. He loved to eat breakfast at the old Bay Bell restaurant and swapped jokes with the other men who met there for morning coffee and eggs. He liked to make others laugh and also tried in little mischievous ways to make us, his family, laugh too. He also loved to go for bike rides, take hikes in nature, mow the grass, make sun tea outside, and also sip on a coke with a twist of fresh lime. When he was not outside, you could find him watching the football game while simultaneously listening to a baseball game and reading the sports section in the newspaper. Oh and one cannot forget his love for sweets, especially chocolate.

As a child, the perfect Saturday afternoon with dad included going for a bike ride then coming home to pick up sticks in the yard as dad prepared to mow the grass. All the while, you could hear one of the many games playing from the radio in the kitchen window. The smell of fresh cut grass would fill the air and as the last strip was mowed, the sun tea would be just about finished. While waiting for the sun tea to be complete, dad would pour us both a glass of coke, squeeze a lime in, and we would sit on the porch eating Oreos together watching the squirrels play. Later that afternoon, a late summer storm would usually roll in. We would head outside together to see what direction the storm was coming from and then watch and listen. Dad would have me watch for the lightning then count the seconds until we hear the thunder so we could determine how far away the storm was. He had a love and interest for God's weather, all of it. We will miss Dad/Pa and we look forward to seeing you again in our eternal resting place.

Visitation for friends will be 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, Ohio, 44870. Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 429 Central Ave., Sandusky, Ohio, 44870. Burial will be 2:15 p.m. Wednesday at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Rittman.

In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust Michael L. Holliday. In this life, you embraced him with your tender love; deliver him now from every evil and bid him eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome him into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.