Genevieve Holguin-Stiller

Genevieve Ann Holguin-Stiller born August 27, 1943, in Silver City, NM, passed away December 26, 2023, at the age of 80. She is survived by her brother George and his loving wife Judi, and her three children Stacy, Eva, and Michael. She was grandmother to Theo, Jay, and Brontë, and great grandmother to Maya and Ariadne. She was a dear aunt to all her nieces, Sheryl, Shannon, Janet and nephews, Sean, Steven, and preceded in death, Scott, as well as Mama to countless fur babies over the years. Gennie attended Salpointe Catholic High School and the University of Arizona and married her first love Stephen Stiller and raised her family primarily in Tucson, AZ and Santa Cruz, CA. She was a Volunteer Coordinator for over 2 decades at the University of Arizona, KUAT Public Radio & Television where her generosity, organization, and kind spirit garnered her the love and respect of friends and colleagues. She was a lover of dirty jokes and could be made to laugh so hard she’d cry and beg for mercy. These are some of the facts of her life, but not the true story of it.

Gennie was an open and caring person, but as we grew, and lived through some of the same challenges that she had: love, marriage, children, family, work, divorce… she became less a Mystical Mother, and more a Grizzled Veteran of Existence. She could always be turned to with questions, and you’d perhaps get a story of her own experiences or just plain opinion and advice. Whether heeded or not, you’d often come to the later conclusion that she was right, and that she had tried to steer you that way the whole time. Parenting is often described as the one job where the better you do it, the quicker and more completely you make yourself irrelevant.

Genevieve, to that end, raised us to be independent and hard-working. As soon as we were able, we were encouraged to get our own jobs, learning to make (and spend) our own money, our own schedules, and even cook for ourselves and the rest of the family. She was always involved in our various sports, never missing a track meet or baseball games and horse shows, or the picnics, parties and various award ceremonies involved. She set an example of toughness, honesty, and integrity. She was tender when we needed it, strong otherwise, and always interested in our goings-on. She spent many nights selflessly cramped in a folding cot in my hospital room as I battled asthma or nursing the sore legs and road rashed knees of her fierce, galloping daughters.

Genevieve was a tender healer, stalwart defender and teacher to all those around her. Nurturer and Giver, Sister, NymNym, Honey, Mum, and so much more, as will also always be the memory of her…in short: a Mother.

Mom, rest easy, we will miss you until we meet again. You are greatly loved.