Kathryn Cales Holmes

Kathryn Cales Holmes (Kathy) of Queenstown, MD passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025 with her two daughters by her side. Kathy started her life's journey in Adah, PA on December 29, 1943. She was proud to be a coal miner's daughter. Although she lived in a small house and was one of nine children, it was there that she developed her love and passion for dance. She was on American Bandstand while in high school and went to sock hops every week after football games. She continued her love of dance throughout her years and most recently enjoyed dancing with her friends doing ballroom, hand dancing and line dancing. She moved from PA to Alexandria, VA when she got a job working for the Air Force at the Pentagon just two weeks after graduating high school. She met and married her first husband Ollie McCloskey in 1963, and they had two daughters, Kimberly and Karen. They moved to MD and she started working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She divorced Ollie in 1984. While working at the USDA, she met her future husband, Milton Holmes. He became her dance partner for life until he passed away in April 2008. Together they loved to dance, travel, and spend time with their family. Family was always so important to both of them and there were many special memories made together. Family times included watching football-especially the Steelers games, playing cards, board games, volleyball and horseshoes, crabbing, fishing, and many boat rides. Kathy was the life of every party. Her smile was contagious and her facial expressions priceless! She could make anyone laugh just by being herself. She would talk to everyone anywhere whether it was the grocery store, airport, restaurants or dances. She was so much fun to be around and had many friends to share in the good times while making memories. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Ruth Podolinsky and her husband's Ollie McCloskey and Milton Holmes. She is survived by daughters Kimberly Narvesen and Karen Ratzow; stepson Zachary Holmes and stepdaughter Cassandra Tuller; 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Shirley McCloskey, Josephine Urani, Joseph Podolinsky, Linda John, Donna Wynn, Michael Podolinsky, Anita Solomon, and Mark Podolinsky, as well as many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 with visitation at 10 am and a service at 11 am at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Road, Chester, MD followed by a Celebration of Life at the American Legion, Jeff Davis Post 18, 21619 Centreville Road, Centreville, MD. For the celebration, please wear your favorite dance clothes or Pittsburgh Steelers attire in honor of Kathy. There will also be a burial service at Lafayette Memorial Park, 132 Twin Hills Road, Brier Hill, PA on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The family expresses heartfelt thanks to the staff at Sibley Memorial Hospital and family and friends who provided support, especially during her last few months.

Kathryn Cales Holmes

December 29, 1943 - July 16, 2025