Former substitute teacher
WORCESTER — Barbara J. (McFadden) Olsen – 85, of Worcester, formerly of Santa Rosa, CA and North Reading, passed away on Friday, October 17, 2014 in the Notre Dame Long Term Care Center in Worcester. She was the beloved wife of the late Peter R. Olsen, who died in 2012, after 61 years of marriage.
Born in New York, New York on January 27, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Volney and Mary L. (McConkie) McFadden. Barbara was a graduate of the University of Michigan, Class of 1950. She worked for many years as a substitute teacher in North Reading and in neighboring towns.
Barbara was a homemaker and was very devoted to her family. She was a resident of Santa Rosa, CA for 23 years and a former resident of North Reading for 32 years. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church in North Reading and “Friend” of the First Presbyterian Church of Santa Rosa, CA.
Barbara enjoyed the arts. She loved music, played the piano and enjoyed painting. She was an ardent supporter of the University of Michigan, she maintained letter writing to five of her Michigan classmates for 60 years. She was always very friendly and thankful for her blessings. She was constant in her religious faith. Barbara loved to take pictures at family functions and then loved to share them with her family members.
Family members include her loving children, David R. Olsen and his wife Stefanie (Kuehnel) of Corona Del Mar, CA; Robert P. Olsen and his wife Maryanne (Liberatore) of Sudbury and Nancy J. Cahn and her husband Thomas of West Boylston; her daughter-in-law, Carol L. (Newman) Olsen of Millis; her nine grandchildren, Jenny, Becca, Emily, Daniel, Kimberly, Thomas, Josh, Sarah, and Danielle; her eight great–grandchildren, Annabella, Tyler, Ryan, Travis, Lhogan, Dhilan, Katherine and Lucy; her brother, Dr. Bruce McFadden of Santa Barbara, CA; she was the sister of the late John McFadden, Marilyn McFadden and Lucille Wallner; and mother of the late Donald A. Olsen, who died in 1989.
Her funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 23 at 10:30 a.m. at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to: American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312; Children’s Hospital of Boston, 1 Autumn St., No. 731, Boston, MA 02215 or University of Michigan, 3003 So. State St., Suite 9000, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1288.
