Zelma E. Hollenbeck

February 6, 1924 ~ March 9, 2024

Zelma (Zel), E. Hollenbeck passed away peacefully in her sleep on Mar 9, 2024 in her home in Marlboro, NY. She was born on Feb 6, 1924 to the late Fred E. Mashburn Sr and Mary Ellen Young Mashburn, Durant, Oklahoma. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday in her home with her family, friends, and church members in attendance.

Zelma grew up on a farm during the Great Depression, graduated from Durant High School in 1942, and went on to work for the Boeing Aircraft Company during WWII. She was our own "Rosie the Riveter", actually riveting B-29 bomber wings at Boeing's Wichita, Kansas plant. She met and fell in love with Oscar Julius Hollenbeck, who was a soldier in the US Army stationed nearby, and they married on March 3, 1944. After the war ended, they moved to Oscar's hometown of Newburgh, NY and started their family. They were happily married for 56 years before Oscars passing in 2000.

Zelma was a full-time homemaker and part time bookkeeper for the family business, Hollenbeck & Daily Roofing. She raised four children and took on childcare services for many families in the neighborhood. Zelma became a member of the Moulton Memorial Baptist Church in 1946 and was the longest living member of the church at the time of her passing. Zelma belonged to the church's Beta Eta class and worked for years as a skilled seamstress and craftswoman, creating beautiful dolls, blankets, and many other crafts to sell at church events. Zelma's Raggedy Ann & Andy, Clowns and her Sock Monkeys dolls were her signature creations and have been given to hundreds of children over the years. She treasured her role and took her responsibilities very seriously, often resulting in having hundreds of dolls fill her home in the days leading up to the church sales.

Zelma enjoyed spending time with family, friends, church members and she loved the family reunion trips back to Oklahoma to visit her parents, brothers, sisters, and cousins. Zelma was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Oscar J, son Wayne E. Hollenbeck, brothers Cecil, Ralph, Wayne, Fred (FE), Ward, and sisters Quilla, Wanda and Wilma.

Zelma is survived by her son, Oscar F. Hollenbeck (daughter-in-law Barbara Hollenbeck) of Milton, NY, daughters Helena Ellen Hollenbeck of Carmel, NY, and Gaylla Marie Hollenbeck (son-in-law Michael O'Conner) of Albany, NY; grandchildren Darcy Ritter of Tallahassee, FL, Laura Bogucki of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Jennifer Sunderland of Perth, Australia, Diana Hollenbeck of Los Angeles, California, Philip Holly of Carmel, NY, step granddaughters Lisa Robertson and Taryn Murphy of Marlboro, NY; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, and nephews.

Although she would say we are already making too much of a fuss over her and that we should watch the expenses, we will continue to celebrate her and cherish how fortunate we were to have been a part of her life. Visitation will be at the Brooks Funeral Home in Newburgh, NY on Friday afternoon March 22, 2024 from 2-4 PM. The Funeral Service to celebrate the life of Zelma will begin at 10 AM on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Moulton Memorial Baptist Church in Newburgh, NY, with family interment to follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

To share a memory or send condolences to the family, please visit https://www.brooksfh.com/. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to Hudson Valley Hospice at https://www.hvhospice.org/donate-now/. Arrangements by the Brooks Funeral Home in Newburgh.