Anne Olsen, 88
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Anne Olsen, 88, of 83 Hall St. died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2010, at Sweet Brook Care Centers in Williamstown.
Born in North Adams on Nov. 6, 1921, daughter of James L. and Mary McDonnell Rowley, she graduated from the former St. Joseph's High School with the class of 1940 and from Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee in 1944. She earned her master of science degree from Fordham University in New York City.
After raising her four sons, Mrs. Olsen taught science at St. Joseph's and Drury High School, retiring in the 1980s. During two decades of teaching, mentoring and coaching debate teams, she touched the lives of thousands of children. Before marrying, she was an enthusiastic young scientist in the research and engineering department of the former Sprague Electric Co.
Mrs. Olsen was a communicant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church and served for many years as a Eucharistic minister at the former St. Francis of Assisi Church. She was a longtime member of the Catholic Daughters of America 296 Court Margaret and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
She and her husband, George Olsen, were married Nov. 26, 1949. They met while working at Sprague's.
Besides her husband, she leaves her sons and their wives, George and Karen Kosowicz Olsen of Great Falls, Va., James and Maria Bacopulos Olsen of Gambrills, Md., Thomas and Katherine Maxson Olsen of St. Louis and Robert and Jane Nicklin Olsen of Ridgefield, Conn.; her brother, James Rowley and his wife, Rita, of Pittsfield; 10 grandchildren, Alyssa Olsen Brodzinski and her husband, Mark, Jennifer Olsen Ross and her husband, Stephen, Eric Olsen, Stephen Olsen, Michael Olsen, Emma Olsen, George Olsen, Molly Olsen, Daniel Olsen and Elizabeth Olsen, and her adored great-grandchildren Sophie Maria Ross and Olivia Grace Brodzinski.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A Liturgy of Christian Burial Mrs. Olsen will take place on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 10 from St. Elizabeth's Church. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be held Friday, Jan. 15, from 4 to 7 at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams. Memorial donations are suggested for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through the funeral home.