Alicia J. Holden

Alicia Jane Holden, age 17, of Grottoes, Virginia, formerly of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, surrounded by her loving family in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Though there is much sorrow in her passing, there is also peace in knowing she is no longer suffering after her decade-long battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home, 1209 Iowa Ave W., Marshalltown. Pastor Dillon Johnson will be sharing words of comfort beginning at 11:00 A.M. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Alicia Jane was born on January 26, 2008, in Marshalltown, Iowa. She was the daughter of Jon Holden and Cassandra (Parker) O’Connell. At only six years old, Alicia was diagnosed with a highly aggressive brain tumor. Countless hospitals, surgeries, treatments, and trips back and forth to St. Jude’s in Memphis followed for over ten years. After completing her treatment plan in 2023, the family decided to move to Virginia, mostly for the warmer climate.

She started her elementary schooling at BCL-UW prior to relocating in fourth grade, to the West Marshall Community School District. She was known as a very artistic individual, utilizing her skills for all kinds of crafts and sculpting. Alicia always kept busy with various projects and loved working with her hands. She also enjoyed swimming, listening to music, cooking, and baking. Alicia collected Care Bears, loved turtles, and was a self-proclaimed “Cat Lady.”

Though her tumor had stabilized, there was still a portion that hadn’t been reachable by other doctors. Alicia agreed to an additional surgery, knowing the risks and retaining her positive outlook. During surgery, she suffered a brain stem stroke, resulting in paralysis. But Alicia never gave up. She remained positive during therapy and a move to Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD, regaining some movement and control. Despite all the challenges she faced in her lifetime, Alicia never gave up hope.

Her beautiful smile will be greatly missed by all those who knew her. Left to cherish her memory: her parents Jon Holden of Grottoes, VA and Cassandra Parker (Chris) O’Connell of Waterloo, IA; her siblings: Curtis Cooper, Jade Cooper (Kane) Halsey, Autom Holden, Bentley Holden, Decklen, and Braxton O’Connell. Step-siblings Jayla O’Connell and Ethan O’Connell; her Grandparents: Ron Holden of Marshalltown, IA, Pat Catron Holden of Georgia, and Richard Parker of Wisconsin; other family: Aunt Nichole Holden, Aunt Cortney (JP) Zaiss, Jared (Hannah) Thomas, Step-Aunt Brandy Cooper, and Step-Uncle JC Cooper, and several cousins, Great Aunts, and Great Uncles; and her beloved pets: Sandy, Jazzy, Sebastian, and Leeroy.

Alicia is preceded in death by her Grandma Robin (Rhoades) Cooper and her Step-Grandfather John Cooper, Great Grandparents Roy and Betty (Plander) Auringer, Great Grandparents John and Frances (Kammerer) Holden, and her beloved cat Parker.