Irene Y. Olson (Frati)
Saturday, July 12, 1930-Sunday, March 3, 2024
Irene Y. Olson, 93, died in Accent Care Hospice on March 3, 2024, after a brief illness. She was born on July 12, 1930, to Joseph and Mary (Bukowski) Frati and was the oldest of three daughters. She attended Saint Hedwig's Elementary School and Wilmington High School from which she was graduated in 1948. While in high school she was a cheerleader and she played bass drum in the Pulaski Legion marching band.
On February 3, 1951, she married Evor T. Olson. Together, they had three children, Teddy, Pattie, and Joey. Irene did office work briefly after the birth of her first two children but said that she missed being with them so much that she decided to leave her job. After her youngest child entered school, Irene returned to work in 1965 at Wilmington General Hospital in the accounts payable division. The hospitals began a process of mergers until the current configuration as Christiana Care. She retired as a Supervisor of Accounts Payable in 1995. She also worked part-time jobs to help support her family. After retirement, she began a "second career" as a "nana" to her great grandson Cody, and then to her grandson, Joseph. She loved being a wife and mother, mommom and nana and she insisted on holding holiday meals in her home even into her nineties.
Irene's Catholic faith was especially important to her, and it was nurtured by daily Mass, where she was often a reader, and by the rosary and chaplet of Divine Mercy. She was a mighty pray-er and could be relied upon to pray for special intentions.
Since 1957, when the family moved to Elsmere, they were members of Corpus Christi Parish. Irene served on the parish council and on the church building committee. She was an active member of the Diocesan Mothers Guild that provided spiritual and financial support to the Vocations Office and seminarians. She served as an officer and as president.
She was always eager to learn and engaged in Bible studies and attended a local course in Jewish studies. She retained her wits and her wit to the end. She had a love of spring. Easter was her favorite holiday. She enjoyed flowers, horses, shows, music, TV comedies, and lovely things. She collected elephant jewelry and statuary. She was strong and independent: driving, shopping, and housekeeping until her illness.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband on their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2023. She was also predeceased by her son, Joseph T, her daughter-in-law, Mary Ellen Dowd Olson, her sister Dorothy Okoniewski and her brothers-in-law Jack Reynolds and Albin Okoniewski
She is survived by her son, Rev. Theodore E., (Rev. Dr. Jack, D Anderson) of Millsboro, her daughter, Patricia A. Sarver of Wilmington, who faithfully and tirelessly provided care for her mother both in the home and in medical facilities. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Dana Sarver (April) , Erica Sarver, Christopher Sarver (Jackie), Joseph Olson, her great-grandchildren, Cody Sarver Mulvena, Gabriel and Jeremiah Swift, and Donovan, Makenna, Jordan, and Payton Sarver. She is also survived by her beloved, four-legged and overfed companion, Queenie.
She is also survived by her sister, Joanne Reynolds and nephews and nieces.
Visitation will take place on Monday, March 11 beginning at 10:00AM at St. Hedwig's RC Church, 408 S. Harrison St, Wilmington. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00AM. Interment will be with her husband and son at Cathedral Cemetery, Wilmington.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Saint Hedwig's Church would be appreciated. The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to Christiana Care, and to Accent Care Hospice for providing excellent and compassionately given care. Special thanks to nurses Ali and Autumn. Thanks to her spiritual caregivers: Frs. Molewski, Piekarski and Dillingham.