Rudolph "Peter" Holland, Jr.

Rudolph "Peter" Holland, Jr., 77, of Worcester, a devoted father, grandfather, brother and friend passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 in Quincy Medical Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Peter was born on September 10, 1937 in Worcester, Massachusetts and grew up in Millbury. He was preceded in death by his father Rudolph Peter Holland, Sr. and his mother Agnes (Sheehan) Holland. He attended Millbury High School. On August 13, 1956 Peter joined the United States Air Force. He served his country proudly and was honorably discharged on July 25, 1959. He is survived by his son, Peter J. Holland and his fiancé April Rogers of Westborough and their children Christian and Shannon Holland and Briannna Rogers; his son Patrick B. Holland and his wife Lynda Holland of Shrewsbury and their children Patrick Jr., Ryan and Chloe Holland; a daughter, Diane L. Holland-Cagnon and her husband John Cagnon of Worcester; his first wife and mother of his children, Luci Gilberg of Worcester; a sister, Mary Duquette of Northbridge; and many nieces and nephews. Peter also leaves a beloved companion of over twenty years, Diane Grasseschi of Worcester with whom he especially enjoyed traveling to many destinations around the world and was welcomed as a member of her family. He is predeceased by five brothers, Bernard, Gerald, Donald, John, and Fred Holland and a sister, Martha Holland. Peter was an avid participant in many sports, hobbies and activities. He was a loyal fan of the Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins and was often seen watching his grandsons compete for the St. John's Pioneers, his son, Peter, coaching the Marion Keefe Tech Hockey Team and the Nighthawks Girls Hockey Team and at his granddaughters games and dance recitals. Most recently he was a member of the Rusty Blades Senior Hockey League. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and the outdoors throughout his life. Peter loved being active and embraced the challenge of mastering whatever he did. He was an excellent tennis player, a competitive skier, archer and cyclist. He completed the Pan-Mass Challenge several times and competed in various cycling events. Peter was involved in local football as a coach for the Worcester Crusaders and later as a referee for local high school games. It is the passion he gave to these endeavors that most friends would say defined him. Peter had a successful career in real estate, working for Bob and Lee Mathieu and later in his own agency Keely and Holland as well as Holland & Associates in Shrewsbury. He was the proprietor of A-1 Lawn Care and Snow Removal with customers in Worcester and surrounding towns before his recent retirement. Family, friends, and others whose lives Peter touched are invited to MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2014. His funeral will be celebrated Saturday, November 8, 2014 from the funeral home with a procession to Our Lady of Loreto Parish, 33 Massasoit Road in Worcester where his Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., followed by Military Honors that will be conducted by the United States Air Force. Private inturnment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to The Thomas E. Smith Foundation, P.O. Box 1624 Andover, MA 01810 to support their efforts to reduce hockey related head and neck injuries. To make an online donation please visit the Foundations website at www.justcureparalysis.org. To share your thoughts and memories of Rudolph, please sign his personal guestbook at: mercadantefuneral.com