Holly (Surgent) Bland, 59, died peacefully at home Tuesday (February 26, 2013) after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Clifton, NJ she was a longtime resident of Willimantic, CT. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Early Childhood Development in 1974. She worked at The Travelers in Hartford from 1990-2005 in various roles and finished her career at LIMRA in Windsor as the Dir. of Audit Services. Her greatest pleasures were entertaining family and friends, gardening, and knitting for her loved ones. She was an active parishioner of Grace Episcopal Church, Yantic. She is survived by daughter Katy Bland-Brooks and her husband Bill and their daughters, Katy, Allie and Camryn; and son Matthew Bland and his fiancAC.e Nicole Callegari, her brother Gregory and his wife Linda and their sons, Nicholas and Mark. Her family will receive relatives and friends at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Willimantic on Friday, March 1, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Her funeral services will be Saturday, March 2nd at 11:00 AM at Grace Episcopal Church, Chapel Hill Rd., Yantic. Burial will follow in the Windham Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Garden Club of Windham or to St. Elizabeth's Chapel in Ortley Beach, NJ to aid in rebuilding after hurricane Sandy.