COOPERSTOWN - Holly Gerard, 49, of Cooperstown, NY, died suddenly on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, in Oneonta, NY, from a pulmonary embolism.

Holly was born on Dec. 13, 1972, in New Rochelle, NY, the daughter of the late Jack Gerard and Donna (Gerard) Ferreri.

Holly is survived by her mother and stepfather, Donna and Vincent Ferreri of Vero Beach, FL, and her three brothers: Greg and son Nick Gerard of Rifton, NY; Jeff and wife Cris Gerard of Rifton, NY; and David and wife Maria and daughter Ada Mae Gerard of Durham, NH.

Holly's youth was spent with her family in Rifton, NY, where she attended K-12 in the Kingston City School District, graduating in June 1991.

Shortly after high school, Holly followed her parents' footsteps, heading to Cooperstown, where she worked at Bassett Hospital in various capacities such as HPA Billing and scheduling for the Cardiology Department. Almost everyone in Cooperstown knew Holly, as she was a very familiar face associated with a bevy of part-time jobs such as at Great American/Price Chopper, Cooperstown Veterinary, Pioneer Patio, and her parents' former music store on Pioneer Street, "Holley Music", which was named after her.

In her early years in Cooperstown, she was an active member of the Cooperstown Volunteer Fire Department and the Emergency Squad. In May 2004, she earned her EMT license. According to long-time members of the CFD, Holly was the first woman in the history of the Department to hold an officer's position: Vice-President.

Holly was also a graduate of SUNY Delhi's nursing program, earning her Associate's Degree in Applied Science and her LPN license in 2008. In Cooperstown, she worked at Bassett Hospital,

Woodside Hall, and Otsego Manor. In Oneonta, she worked at Chestnut Park and was about to begin work at Robynwood the day after her unexpected death.

An avid book reader, she amassed a huge "library", finding it hard to part with a "friend". But, even more than books, she loved her cats, Henry and Gracie, "her children" as she called them.

Holly will be interred in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index, alongside her father, at a future date this fall. Arrangements are under the supervision of Tillapaugh Funeral Home, Cooperstown.

Memorial donations can be made in her memory to the Susquehanna SPCA, Cooperstown, or to the Cooperstown Village Library.