Hertta P Holfeld

Hertta’s strength, resilience and vivacity were a true testament and embodiment of her Finn “sisu” . She was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, teacher, librarian, follower of Christ, lover of life and one of a kind story teller.

Born on September 30, 1926 to parents, Tynne Crain and Wilho Pohto, in Cortland, Ohio. Hertta was the eldest of five children. Raised on Perry farm which her father rented when the Great Depression started in 1929, the Pohtos grew pumpkins, tomatoes and cucumbers. Hertta recalls her father stating, “ we aren’t going to starve, we’re going to buy a farm.” Thus began Hertta’s early life. Despite the depression, Hertta painted her childhood as anything but. In fact, she shares stories of playing, running, going to school, helping out with farm chores and spending countless summers on her nearby grandparents farm. In one memory, Hertta recalls her father coming to collect her at summer's end, insisting she needed to go to school. Before opening the door, her grandfather would hurriedly tell her to lie down under the covers and pretend to be sick. It was evident to anyone listening that Hertta was not only a beloved daughter, but a treasured granddaughter as well.

Being of Finnish heritage; Hertta learned to speak English when she started primary school. It was also there that she discovered her love of books. Her mother would recall finding her in various corners of the house, happily tucked away reading. While Hertta loved school, it wasn’t without its challenges. In one instance, Hertta was subject to her left arm being tied behind her back in an effort to correct and train her to use her right hand. At day's end, she ran to tell her grandfather who promptly marched down to the school house and informed her teacher that if she were to ever tie her hand again, he’d have her fired.

When the United States entered WWII in 1941, Hertta expressed interest in becoming a nurse for the Red Cross. However; her parents insisted she go to college and become a teacher instead. She attended Suomi College in Hancock, Michigan where she graduated with an associate’s degree.

On April 11, 1959, Hertta married Edward H. Holfeld in Chicago, Illinois. Together they raised two daughters, Adrienne and Nanette, before welcoming their son, Edward (Eddie). They enjoyed many happy years together with their little family. In 1968 they moved from Chicago, Illinois to Riverdale, NJ.

Sadly, in 1971, Hertta’s dear husband, Ed succumbed to cancer and Hertta was left a widow at 44 years old. Through devastating loss, Hertta mustered up her Finn sisu and rallied on.

She moved to Lake Stockholm, NJ in 1972. She attended William Paterson University and earned her bachelor degree in the spring of 1975, and began teaching at Hamburg Elementary School, in Hamburg, NJ.

In March of 1982, she became a grandmother for the first time, a role in which she thrived. She retired from teaching in the spring of 1993. She moved once again from Lake Stockholm, NJ to Dingman’s Ferry, PA in 1986.

It was not until 1993 that Hertta relocated to her cherished Florida home, in New Port Richey. She spent many afternoons reading books on the beach, collecting shells for her grandkids and soaking up the sunshine. She joined the Finnish club, began to substitute teach, and became a member of Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church where she also sang in choir.

In October of 2019, tragedy struck her life again and she lost her only son, Eddie, also to cancer. Hertta says she held his hand until the very end and she stressed the importance of maintaining peace in all relationships. “ You can’t let there be anything between you, “ she said, “ you have to be able to hold someone's hand until the end.”

In late 2020, after a lifetime of picking up and moving home and states, Hertta made her final move and said goodbye to her cherished home in New Port Richey, Florida. She settled down in Sussex, New Jersey to be near family but she maintained her independent living until the remarkable age of 99.

Hertta had a life goal of living to see her 100th birthday and on September 30,2026 she met that goal. She lived her days on earth to the fullest, soaking in every moment and never taking a single day for granted. She was a cherished mother and grandmother, a friend to all and a ray of light to all who knew her. Upon reflection of her life Hertta would say; with misty eyes, how she wished she could go back and do it all again. “ But yesterday is gone, you can never go back.” “ However;” she would add with a little shrug of her shoulders, “ I had fun.”

Hertta is preceded in death by: Parents Wilho Pohto and Tynne Pohto, brothers, Ralph,Wilho and David Pohto. Husband, Edward H. Holfeld, Son, Edward L. Holfeld, and granddaughter, Katrina Brienne VanderWeert.

She is survived by: Her sister Irene Mccullough, daughter Adrienne and husband Angelo Curcio of Oak Ridge, NJ. Daughter, Nanette Bilodeau of Seattle, Washington, her grandchildren; Michael Bilodeau, Danielle and husband Jonathan O’Shaughnessy of Argyle, TX, along with their children, Jayne, Haleigh, Caleb, Timothy and Elijah. Christian Curcio and his wife Grace of Cypress, TX along with children, Lael, Jordyn, Rowan, Keira, Evangeline and Asher. Noelle and Nicholas Hogan of Matamoras, PA with their children, Niko and Enna, Collette and Michael Maasbach and their children, Daniel, Liesel and Nate of Albrightsville, PA. Lisette and Benjamin LaRusso along with their children, Remi, Rafe, Reese, Rhodes and Rhett of Milford, PA, Lucas and wife Kayla Curcio of Paramus, NJ along with their children Lana and Leia. Nikki and Sam Matthews, along with their daughter, Riley and Zach Curcio of Edgewater, NJ.

Hertta’s final wish and prayer is to be laid to rest next to her beloved son, Eddie, in New Port Richey, FL.

In Lieu of flowers, Hertta asked that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s research hospital in her name.