HOLOTA; Jutta
1926 ~ 2016
Deeply cherished mother, avid hiker and artist, Jutta Monica (Babion) Holota will be profoundly missed by her family. She passed peacefully on February 26, 2016, at Abbotsford Regional Hospital, at the age of 90. We say goodbye to a guiding light, a soul brimming with kindness, curiosity and creativity, and a human reflection of nature's boundless beauty. Jutta was one of the three children of Anton and Auguste (Kirchner) Babion. She was born February 19, 1926 in Vienna, Austria where she lived until 1934, and then moved with her family to Germany. She was trained as a textile designer, and eventually came to live in Schliersee, Bavaria, where she met her husband-to-be, John Ivan Holota, who left his family farm in the Ukraine during the turmoil of World War II. Jutta and John emigrated to eastern Canada in 1951. Having learned to weld in Germany, John was a dedicated provider while Jutta looked after their home. Their son Andrew was born in 1957 in Chicoutimi, Quebec. Dearly missing the lofty mountains of Bavaria, Jutta motivated John to move to Abbotsford in 1963. They lived on a hobby farm while John continued in his trade. Mount Baker was a prominent feature of the view from their home, and Jutta pursued her deep passion and fascination for the mountains, logging about 1,000 hikes throughout the Cascades and Chilliwack Valley. She formed the Fraser Valley Hikers some 40 years ago to share her experiences. She was a never-ending fountain of knowledge for every trail, every peak, and every alpine flower and other flora and fauna. A talented artist, Jutta reflected her love for mountains and other natural scenes in her oil paintings and sketches. She was the founder of the Abbotsford Palette Club in 1978. She also was a gifted knitter, and creator of traditional Bavarian handicrafts and artwork. Jutta was an immensely devoted mother and wife, helping her husband with farm work, and taking her son on countless hikes and outdoor trips. She was loving, warm and wise, kind and generous, and a great cook. Any child would be truly blessed to have such a supportive, inspiring mom. Andrew became a photographer and journalist, starting his career at the Abbotsford News, and after many postings and adventures in the region and around the world, returned to The News in 2009 as editor, in part, to be closer to his mom. She was also a committed animal lover, enjoying and caring for numerous cats and dogs, many of them strays, during the farm years, and at their later retirement home in Abbotsford, where she continued to live after John passed away in October 2006. In lieu of flowers, donations will be much appreciated for the BCSPCA. Jutta is survived by her dear sister Nika, son Andrew, daughter-in-law Heidi and granddaughter Anna. She is predeceased by her brother Toni. Jutta will be remembered with the deepest love and greatest respect. As it was throughout her life, her uplifting spirit now has eternal freedom and joy among the soaring peaks. Please think of her when you gaze at the region's highest mountains.