Meredith Farrar Holden, recently of Hingham, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on April 17, 2026, at the age of 83, after a yearlong battle with cancer, surrounded by family in her final days.
Born on January 26, 1943, to Elizabeth and Philip Holden, Meredith grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts alongside her sisters, Holly and Debby. From an early age, she was known for her caring spirit - a quality that guided her through a life marked by many moves, new communities, and lasting connections.
She graduated from the University of Vermont and, with a lifelong love of learning, went on to later earn degrees in horticulture and business in Connecticut. She worked for many years as a secretary at universities in Cambridge, New Haven, and the Hartford area in Connecticut, bringing quiet dedication and kindness to those around her. During the 1980s, Meredith, alongside her then-husband Michael Nicholson, established a business that grew into a global exporter and continues to thrive.
Affectionately known as “Yaya” by her grandchildren, Meredith found her greatest joy in family. She is preceded in death by her parents; her former husbands, Anthony Nunes and Michael Nicholson; her son, Jesse Nicholson; and her brother-in-law, Peter Franz. She is survived by her sisters, Holly (Brad) Bealmear and Debby Franz; her daughter, Helen (Ethan) Arnold; and her beloved grandchildren, Sophie Arnold, Nathan Arnold, and Olivia (Noah) Mallory. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews—Zoe (William) Cauley, Farrar (Thomas) Lannon, Karl Franz (Diane), and Joseph (Rockwell) Franz—as well as her cherished grandnieces and grandnephews, Eula Cauley, Una Lannon, and Parker and Alexandria Franz.
Animals were a constant source of joy throughout Meredith’s life. From riding horses as a young girl to adopting and fostering animals of all kinds—turtles, parakeets, cats, and dogs—she had a natural gift for caring for living things. In her later years, she spent eleven happy years in Santa Fe, New Mexico, exploring the area with her sister Holly and husband Brad. There, she volunteered at a local animal shelter, attended church, tended her garden, and found quiet happiness in nurturing both plants and animals.
A private graveside service will be held on May 10th.
She will be remembered for her gentle heart, her quiet generosity, and the love she gave to her family and to every creature in her care.
