Former Northbrook woman identified as a victim of New Zealand volcanic eruption

The mother of two former Northbrook brothers killed during the Dec. 9 volcanic eruption on New Zealand’s White Island has also been confirmed to be among the victims.

Barbara Jean Hollander, 49, had been listed as missing after the eruption. But on Tuesday, New Zealand Police confirmed Hollander was killed.

Hollander, along with her husband, Martin Berend Hollander, 48, and their two children – Berend Hollander, 16, and Matthew Hollander, 14 – were among the 18 who died following the eruption.

The Hollander family lived in Northbrook for about five years, leaving for Australia, the father’s birthplace, about four years ago, a former neighbor told the Chicago Sun-Times last week.

New Zealand authorities listed the mother and sons as United States citizens, but permanent residents of Australia.

Authorities say 24 Australians, nine Americans, five New Zealanders, four Germans, two Britons, two Chinese and a Malaysian were on the island at the time of the eruption. Many were from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that had left Sydney two days earlier.