Victim laid to rest
OXFORD WEEKLY PLANET
Monday, April 25, 2022
Yoknapatawpha murder victim laid to rest in Pittsburgh
Mourners gathered yesterday for the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, funeral of murder victim Wendy Pane Holloway, whose body was found south of Oxford on April 16.
Holloway was preceded in death by her father, Richard Pane, and is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Austin Pane of Pittsburgh, and her brother, Peter Pane, of Memphis, Tennessee.
Many friends, former classmates, and colleagues attended the funeral service at White Memorial Chapel, offering condolences to the bereaved family of the young woman whose life was cut short so tragically. The pall on her white coffin was made using her favorite flower — 28 blue irises, one for each year of her life.
Holloway's long-time friend, Anil Virani, delivered the eulogy, and her cousin, Valerie Cooper, read a psalm. Relatives Steven Austin, Brett Collins, and Jason Harding; former co-worker Daniel Courrier; and friends Greg Becker and Jake Winslow served as pallbearers.
The bereaved mother was supported by a large group of friends from her Red Cross activities and her volunteer work as a mathematics tutor.
Other mourners included Holloway's former roommate, Jenny Sadlier of Seattle, Washington; Stanford University Computer Science Professor Reginald Thorne; TechnoStar Chief Executive Officer Joshua Griggs; and relatives and friends Ashley Davies, Dexter Davies, Laura Pane Harding, Amanda Hansen, Audrey and Harold Pane, Myra Pane, Louisa Pane, Holly and Lou Sinclair, Sasha Sinclair, Morgan Sinclair.
'She had a big heart'
In his eulogy, Mr. Virani described the young Wendy Pane as a true friend, one with whom he had a friendly rivalry. She was the only person in class who ever beat him in math and science, he said, and she did it consistently every year they were in high school.
"I always admired Wendy's brilliance and talent," he told the congregation. "She was not one to mess around. She knew when she was right. She wanted to achieve, she had ambition, and she had the will to win."
He recalled how she had volunteered to help children with math and computing skills while she was in the final years of high school and later at Stanford University.
"She had a big heart, especially when it came to helping people show their talents," he said.
Mr. Virani described how the two had stayed in contact over the years despite moving into different fields.
"We always kept in touch, being there for each other through life's ups and downs, celebrating each other's victories, and easing each other's heartaches.
"The last time I saw her, she was full of enthusiasm, invigorated after her vacation in the Far East, and eagerly anticipating her new direction in Oxford. At the end of her life, she was looking forward to a future full of love, joy, and success. We'll never get to see what that future would have looked like, but I take comfort in the knowledge that I was her friend to the end. And she was mine."
After the interment at Homestead Cemetery, a reception was held at Mrs. Pane's home.
The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department's investigation into Holloway's murder is ongoing, and Detective Ted Armstrong is in Pittsburgh to speak to family members and friends.
