Etta J. Holweck

Etta Jane (Duke) Holweck (95) of Clarksville, Maryland, departed this life on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.

Born June 19, 1929, in Washington D.C., she was the daughter of the late Walter Clayton Duke and the late Minnie Isabelle (Schultz) Duke.

Etta, or “Jane” as she was known to many of her friends, was an artist and a homemaker. She met her husband, Ed, when they played on the same Duckpin bowling team at Harry Diamond Laboratories in the mid-1950’s. He was the love of her life. They were married for 66 years.

Jane was trained as a graphic artist, but she worked in various fields to which she was drawn. She was a nanny for the Harris household; a department store model; a medical receptionist; a secretary; a floral designer; and she was in charge of altar flowers for many years at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. Her most important role was mother to her four children of whom she was fiercely proud.

Jane had many adventures in her life. She and Ed enjoyed vacations together, and with their family, to the nearby beach and the mountains, as well as trips to Florida, Texas, Hawaii, California, the Pacific Northwest, Mexico, and Bermuda. When she and Ed became “snow birds,” spending half of each year in Maryland and the other half in Florida, they enjoyed visits from family and occasional trips to visit loved ones in Texas and Ohio.

Beginning in her childhood, Jane cultivated a love of animals. As a teen, she loved riding her beloved horse who she supported by working at a nearby stable and she & Ed adored each of their sweet little pups. Jane had varied hobbies and interests including gardening, sewing, crocheting, traveling, crafts, cooking and canning. She also enjoyed boating, crabbing, and fishing (where it seemed she could always catch more fish than anyone), and she excelled at interior decorating. Jane was an avid collector and she loved adding to each of her collections.

In her younger years, Jane was a social butterfly. She never met a stranger. She loved spending time with her friends and neighbors: playing cards, shopping for flowers, attending parties, and going to the Last Chance Saloon to hear live bands, where Jane could occasionally be found dancing on-stage. She knew how to have fun.

Jane felt the importance of reminding the people she loved of how much she cared. She was a frequent sender of cards, notes, clipped articles, and little gifts and every visit and phone call ended with the words “I love you” or “I love you more.”  Jane had many friends throughout her long life, but she loved being with her family most of all.

Surviving are her daughter Susan Holweck Coe, son-in-law Ben, and grandchildren Emily Jane, Matthew, and Christian; daughter Karen Holweck-Mulreany and son-in-law Tim; daughter Valerie Holweck Keeley, son-in-law Mark, and grandchildren Justin and Ryan; son Chris Holweck, daughter-in-law Dana, grandson Ethan, granddaughter-in-law Ren, and granddaughter Aubrey.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 6, 2024 at Donaldson Funeral Home of Clarksville, P.A., 12540 Clarksville Pike (Route 108), Clarksville, MD 21029.

A private burial will be held on a future date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Jane’s name to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation , the American Brain Foundation , or The Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Preservation Association .

Please share your sentiments on Jane’s tribute wall.