Marie C. Olsen

Madison - Mom died on April 30, 2011 during hymn sing at Covenant Oaks. However, she probably would have preferred passing on while tapping her foot to something livelier, like ""Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue."" In her day, she had played piano and sung with a band that performed at dances in small towns in southern South Dakota. Honky-tonk was more her style. Marie Olsen was born in Haverhill, Iowa, the 12th of 12 children born to Mary and Ignatius Augustine. She had seven older brothers and four older sisters. In 1939, she married Wayne (Ole) Olsen, an only child. With the marriage, Ole became a part of a large family. Marie became the beloved ""only daughter"" of her in-laws. It was a perfect match. Mom and Dad started their married life in Pierre, South Dakota, but Dad's job with the federal government resulted in moves to several other states until they ended up in Madison in 1959, where they stayed after Dad's retirement. While in Madison, Mom was very proud of her employment as an LTE with the UW Registrar's Office for 20 years. So, how do you say goodbye to someone who has been a part of your life longer than most parents have been? In deference to Mom's wishes (i.e. to NOT mention her age in her obituary), we will only say that we have been blessed with longevity genes (Dad died just two years ago at the age of 97). Mom was quite a woman. Independent before her time, loving yet very feisty, and extremely private in family matters. She is survived by Carol (Rod) Nilles of Middleton, Joanne (Cal) Beatty of East Orange, New Jersey and Mary Kay (Dave) Briggs of Waunakee. She was known as ""Grandma O"" by Peter (Mary Beth) Nilles, Teresa (Robert) Nicholas, Mark (Aisha Samples) Nilles, Julia Beatty, and Dan Briggs, and great-grandchildren, Laura, David, Ian, and Julia Nilles and Alex, Finnegan, and Enzo Nicholas. Thank you to the staff of Covenant Oaks at Oakwood for the loving care you bestowed on Mom while she was a resident. We always left our visits with her knowing that she was in the best of hands. Though Hospice was only involved in a few weeks before Mom's death, we appreciate everything you did as well. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison with Msgr. Donald J. Heiar, Jr. presiding. A visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at church on Wednesday. Entombment will be held at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Oakwood Foundation, 6201 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53705; or HospiceCare Foundation, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711.