Beryl Holland Obituary

Singer Island - Strong Australian woman, lover of the natural world, and talented artist. Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother passed away Sunday, June 8th 2025 after 97 years. Her life was full as all good lives are. She worked hard, had a family, loved to laugh and enjoyed a 'drinkle' especially when there was live music most particularly when the Beatles were played.

She was born in Moree, N.S.W. Australia to Randal a chemist, more on that later, and her mother Muriel. Beryl's zest for life may have been sparked by her namesake Beryl Markham an aviator far ahead of her time. Self admitted tomboy before it was fashionable Beryl was often asked to be the male lead in school plays. Her love of nature was apparent early as she enjoyed recollecting a backyard bamboo stand where as a little girl she would sit and wait for her large green tree frog to appear. Relaxed on the leaves under the stand she would make a nest in her dress for 'froggie' and together they would enjoy each other's company as she stroked his back and sang to her lovely green friend.

As a young girl during the depression she took the initiative to ask passing trains for coal needed by family and friends.

One story which always put smile on her face was getting the local children to steal fruit from the neighbor's apple trees while she stood lookout. When she was eventually caught and brought before her parents to face judgment Beryl still smiled remembering the neighbor saying, "I always thought she was such a proper lady."

As head of her boarding school she followed the rules and reprimanded those who stepped out of line. She quotes one young man as telling her, "You're not school captain, you're the POLICE!!"

Beryl matriculated to Sydney University and working with her father the chemist in a local department store David Jones she caught the eye of Arthur Holland a bomber pilot for the Royal Australian Air Force during W.W. II.

As a window dresser in the same store Arthur must have found something quite appealing about an oversized white lab coat on the chemist's beautiful assistant Beryl.

Marrying him early 1947 she found great success by creating a nappy/diaper cover called 'Snapkins'. Assisted by her husband's talent for graphic design she was extremely proud to support five families by employing them in production. As she remembers, "We were making a lot of money for those days."

She and her husband enjoyed socializing and would have been thought of as part of the art community or the 'in crowd' as their friends were mostly artists, writers and poets.

Traveling to America in 1972 she quickly improved her Manhattan surroundings from 72nd and 1st Avenue to 75th and Park Avenue by chatting with doormen in the area to find out which apartments were available. This ingenious maneuver allowed her to negotiate directly with the owner of the building instead of a realtor.

Soon after finding a comfortable place to live she was out the door landing a job at a prestigious Madison Avenue baby clothing store. The store Patrick and later Petit Bateau Boutique was only two blocks from home. Nice stroll to work, nice stroll home. Pretty cool. Her customers included John Lennon, Goldie Hawn, the Royal Family's Fergie to name a few.

In 1999 Beryl moved to Singer Island, Florida and has enjoyed taking up the passion of painting. In her words, "I started painting just to show your father I could too."

Giving back to the community was always important to her. Donating to dozens of charities for decades, volunteering for Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital and Hospital for Special Surgery, and most recently Historical Society of Palm Beach County, MacArthur Beach State Park, and Loggerhead Marinelife Center.

At the time of her passing she had just spent three days at Walt Disney World. Country Bear Jamboree, Lion King, Nemo, It's A Small World After All, and Jungle Cruise among others. Good times right to the end. Doesn't get better than that, her life was very well lived.

Whether you were an old acquaintance, a new friend or even a stranger she would always leave you with this. "Have a good life, above all have fun and lots of laughter."

Beryl was predeceased by her husband Arthur and a grandson Guy. She is survived by three sons: Anthony in Australia, Christopher and his wife Helga of NYC, TN and Key West, and Mark on Singer Island; two grandchildren: Sophie and Max with five great grandchildren: Kyle, Declan, Kian, Chris and Rhys.

A memorial commemorating her life with be on her 98th birthday 10/17/2025 at the William and Pat Johnson Historical Society in West Palm Beach. Be there or be square.

Instead of flowers please donate to Loggerhead Marinelife Center or any charity you wish that helps animals in need.