1930
Barbara
2015
Barbara (Strand) Olson
July 20, 1930 — April 22, 2015
HOLDEN – Barbara (Strand) Olson, 84, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. Barbara was born in Worcester, daughter of the late John L. and Alma E. (Bjorklund) Strand.
She was raised in Worcester and graduated from Commerce High School, where she was a Horace Mann Scholar. Barbara worked for Norton Company (Saint Gobain) where she became the first woman named as a buyer, and later was promoted to purchasing agent.
Barbara was active with the church family at Zion Lutheran Church in Worcester, and later at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden. A doer and not an onlooker, Barbara loved to sing in the choir and was a member almost continuously from the age of 8 until she was 82. She also sang with the former Chaminade Singers, a women’s chorus. Barbara was also an active member of the Holden community, working as a census taker, a poll worker, and as a member of the Friends of the Holden Council on Aging. She spent many hours volunteering at the Holden Senior Center and delivering Meals on Wheels to those unable to get out of their homes. She was also a Girl Scout leader and volunteer at the “Corner Shop” in Holden for many years. Barbara, along with her late husband Roland, received the Holden Good Neighbor Award for their tireless dedication to the community.
Barbara enjoyed camping with family and friends, as well as hiking, biking and canoeing. She participated in several candlepin bowling leagues. Idle hands were foreign to Barbara, and she kept active by refinishing furniture, knitting and sewing, as well as creating crafts for church bazaars. An avid gardener, Barbara maintained a beautiful home and truly enjoyed sharing time and creations with her friends. Family was the heart of her life. Her grandsons and great-grandson were her pride joy. She always considered her loving and caring family and friends as a great blessing.
Her beloved husband of 62 years, Roland “Rollie” E. Olson died on November 13, 2014. She leaves her daughter, Karen E. Pugatch and her husband, Dr. Robert Pugatch of Lutherville, MD; her four grandchildren, Adam, Silas, Samuel and Joshua; a great-grandchild, Caleb; nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her son, Jeffrey Olson who died in 1998, as well as her sister, Mildred Maloney.
A memorial service honoring Barbara’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden. Interment will be held at 10 a.m. in Grove Cemetery, Holden, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 346 Shrewsbury Street, Holden, MA 01520 or to VNA Care Hospice, 120 Thomas Street, Worcester, MA 01608. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please "Sign the Guestbook" on this page.
She was raised in Worcester and graduated from Commerce High School, where she was a Horace Mann Scholar. Barbara worked for Norton Company (Saint Gobain) where she became the first woman named as a buyer, and later was promoted to purchasing agent.
Barbara was active with the church family at Zion Lutheran Church in Worcester, and later at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden. A doer and not an onlooker, Barbara loved to sing in the choir and was a member almost continuously from the age of 8 until she was 82. She also sang with the former Chaminade Singers, a women’s chorus. Barbara was also an active member of the Holden community, working as a census taker, a poll worker, and as a member of the Friends of the Holden Council on Aging. She spent many hours volunteering at the Holden Senior Center and delivering Meals on Wheels to those unable to get out of their homes. She was also a Girl Scout leader and volunteer at the “Corner Shop” in Holden for many years. Barbara, along with her late husband Roland, received the Holden Good Neighbor Award for their tireless dedication to the community.
Barbara enjoyed camping with family and friends, as well as hiking, biking and canoeing. She participated in several candlepin bowling leagues. Idle hands were foreign to Barbara, and she kept active by refinishing furniture, knitting and sewing, as well as creating crafts for church bazaars. An avid gardener, Barbara maintained a beautiful home and truly enjoyed sharing time and creations with her friends. Family was the heart of her life. Her grandsons and great-grandson were her pride joy. She always considered her loving and caring family and friends as a great blessing.
Her beloved husband of 62 years, Roland “Rollie” E. Olson died on November 13, 2014. She leaves her daughter, Karen E. Pugatch and her husband, Dr. Robert Pugatch of Lutherville, MD; her four grandchildren, Adam, Silas, Samuel and Joshua; a great-grandchild, Caleb; nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her son, Jeffrey Olson who died in 1998, as well as her sister, Mildred Maloney.
A memorial service honoring Barbara’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Holden. Interment will be held at 10 a.m. in Grove Cemetery, Holden, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 346 Shrewsbury Street, Holden, MA 01520 or to VNA Care Hospice, 120 Thomas Street, Worcester, MA 01608. Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden.
To share a memory or offer a condolence, please "Sign the Guestbook" on this page.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara (Strand) Olson, please visit our flower store.
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