Suzanne Chase Olsen
March 30, 1943 – November 8, 2022
On November 8, 2022, Suzanne C. Olsen, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully in Sharon, Connecticut, at the age of 79. Sue was born on March 30, 1943 to Geraldine Lois (Rayner) Chase and William Edward Chase, Jr in Worcester, MA. She was a lifelong resident of Boylston, MA until four years ago when she and her loving husband Roald moved to The Cottage at Litchfield Hills Memory Care residence in Torrington, CT. In mid September, Sue and Roald moved to Sharon Healthcare Center in Sharon.
Sue attended Boylston Elementary School and South High School in Worcester, MA. She was a natural athlete and performer: playing basketball, softball, and volleyball as well as singing with several choirs and vocal groups throughout her teenage years. Sue was a lifelong learner, always curious and reading a stack of books that lived by her bedside. She instilled this love of learning and inquisitiveness in her children and grandchildren.
Sue and Roald were married on November 17, 1962 at the First Congregational Church in Boylston, MA. Nine months later their first child Scott Evans Olsen was born, followed by SueEllen Margaret, Erick Roald and Tara Katrine. In addition to her devotion to her family and her fondness for boisterous family gatherings, Sue enjoyed the outdoors and could often be found doing yard work or playing outside with their children in the yard of their Boylston home where they lived for 51 years. She loved water of all sorts; from the ocean in Maine and NH to California and Cape Cod, to the backyard pool, to Sandy Pond and Lake Winnipesaukee.
Sue worked for several years as the Administrative Assistant to the Selectmen in the Town of Boylston before transitioning to the private sector. Initially, Sue worked for Refco, Inc. as the Executive Assistant to the President and then, IDG Corporation as the Directing Officer of the Warehouse. She served as Town Administrator for the Town of Boylston for many years until she retired in 2009.
She was active in many community organizations, having served as a Cub Scouts Den Mother, a Brownie and Girl Scout Troop Leader and a Lassie League Coach. Suzanne was a Deacon, a member of the Ladies Benevolent Society and sang in the choir at the Congregational Church in Boylston. Suzanne was also a Trustee of the Boylston Public Library. She was an active participant in the Boylston Senior Citizens group. Sue helped the Senior Housing development in Boylston become a reality. She served as the Women’s Build in Worcester Project Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity and was instrumental in bringing affordable housing to Boylston. As she journeyed towards retirement, Sue began taking online classes in creative writing with a focus on writing children’s stories.
Her struggles with memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease began to become more prevalent in her early years of retirement. Never one to give in, Sue continued to read and write, to sing and play the piano, to do puzzles and paint. She kept nurturing her many gardens, and she doted on her precious cat, Mamie. Most of all, she continued to laugh with and love her family and friends.
Sue will be incredibly missed by so many, but by none more than her beloved husband of 60 years Roald. She will be remembered with great love by her family; her son Scott Olsen and his fiancé Laurie Wood, her daughter SueEllen Thomas and her partner Jay Cretcher, her son Erick Olsen and his wife Tina Olsen, and her daughter Tara Olsen Allen and her husband Daemian Allen, her 8 beloved grandchildren Jacob Paul Thomas, Elias Joseph Olsen, Michaela Rayne Thomas, Konrad Tyler Olsen, Eleanor (Ellie) Mary Olsen, Annika Jordan Thomas, Olivia Suzanne Olsen and Tobias (Toby) William Olsen as well as her sister Diane Chase and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews. Sue leaves behind countless friends and fur babies who have been blessed by her love and care.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10 at 11 AM at Church of Christ Congregational (UCC) at 12 Village Green in Norfolk, CT with a reception to follow. In addition, calling hours will be held on Sunday July 16, 2023 from 4-6 PM at Nordgren Memorial Chapel (300 Lincoln St.) in Worcester, MA. A graveside service will take place on Monday July 17, 2023 at 11 AM at Pine Grove Cemetery (Scar Hill Road) in Boylston with a 12 Noon reception to follow at Boylston Congregational Church.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org or Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester at www.habitat mwgw.org. For directions or to leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.