Nancy L. Olsen, 91, of Wellesley passed away on Friday morning August 18th with both of her sons Stephen and Douglas by her side.
Born to the late Charles A. Zinck and Charlotte (Baker) Zinck, she grew up in Wollaston MA where she met her childhood friend and late husband of 66 years, Eliot J. Olsen Jr.
Nancy graduated from the Woodward School, received her nursing degree, and spent the early years of her career working as a nurse at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston until she had her children. She later worked as a part time lab technician for the William Carter Company while raising her family. Nancy lived in Needham for more than 60 years and spent many wonderful summers on Cape Cod enjoying the beach, boating and fishing in Cape Cod bay.
As her family grew, she and her late husband Eliot spent winters in Lake Whales FL and Roswell GA where her son Stephen and his family were living. While in Georgia, Nancy was active in the Cross of Life parish, and later, while residing at Waterstone of Wellesley, enjoyed watching the Cross of Life live online service and attending weekly bible study with her daughter in law.
One of the biggest parts of Nancy's life was her love of music and playing the piano. She was quite good at "tickling the ivories" as someone wrote in her high school year book, a passion she carried throughout her life. From coordinating musicals at their winter homes, to weekly piano accompanied singalongs at Waterstone, Nancy loved sharing her passion for music with everyone.
She also loved games of all kinds and spent many fun times teaching others how to play her favorite card game called "hand and foot", which she seldom lost.
Nancy leaves behind her sons Stephen and Douglas and their wives Nancy and Dana, and her grandsons Greg and wife Haley, Scott and wife Caroline, Kevin, Tyler, Brandon and Connor.
A Funeral Service will be held in the Eaton Funeral Home, 1351 Highland Avenue, Needham, on Thursday, August 24th at 12noon. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 11am-12noon. Interment will follow at Needham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org)
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