Worcester: Betty M. Garabedian, 89, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 25, 2018, in Christopher House of Worcester. She was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Peter Garabedian, and her brother, Robert L. Olson. She leaves her nieces Dr. Martha A. Urbanowski, Ph.D. and her husband William of Southbridge; Cynthia Olson of MN; her nephews Mark Olson and his wife Alexandra of Rowley; Keith Olson and his wife Catherine of Sherborn; her grandnephews and grandnieces John, Elizabeth, Brian, and Nora Olson; her sister-in-law Muriel Olson of Auburn; a cousin Holly Swan of Sutton and her sons Christopher Swan and his wife Yelena of Bronx, NY, and Timothy, Thomas, and Benjamin Gilbert of Sutton, MA.
Betty was born in Worcester, daughter of the late Henry and Marie (Holquist) Olson. She graduated from Auburn High School, class of 1946. She earned her Bachelors degree from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, and her Master of Education degree from Boston University in 1961. She was an elementary school teacher at the Patton School in Shrewsbury for 7 years, then the reading supervisor in the Auburn School District, retiring as an elementary school teacher in the Douglas School System. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Honor Society. She enjoyed music, traveling, and reading.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2018, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. in Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln St., Worcester. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Whitinsville. For directions or to leave an online condolence message, please click link.