Susan Marie Olson (Martell) - Age 69, beloved wife of Michael W. Olson, and dear mother of five, passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Wednesday, the 25th of February at Mass. General Hospital, Boston.
Born in Cambridge Massachusetts, November 19th, 1956, to the late Henry F. and Olive (Lannon) Martell, she lived most of her life in Billerica, Massachusetts.
As a young girl, Susan was extremely close to, and deeply admired, her older sister, Patricia “Patty”. An inseparable duo, young Susan would accompany her sister on many of Patty’s dates. This bond carried forward to Patty’s marriage and subsequent stationing near Rio, Brazil, where Susan would visit for months at a time. Susan’ empathetic, and playful disposition let her befriend a local girl, sharing mischief, despite not sharing a language — Susan always spoke the language of humanity. Inheriting the ‘Gift of Gab’ from her mother, Susan would speak for hours on end with Patty, until her dear sister’s passing in 2023.
As a teen, Susan would travel far and wide with her girlfriends, in her scrappy VW Beetle. Not much later, her kindness and uncommon beauty caught the eye of young Michael, and soon they were married, with their first child not long after.
Susan’s deep compassion and empathy made her well suited in her career as Nurses Aide at Carleton-Willard Village Assisted Living, in Bedford. There she touched many lives as they passed through her diligent care. She earned a fine reputation for being unusually competent and deeply caring for residents' emotional needs. All who knew her would agree, however, that Susan’s primary craft, and her deepest joy, was in Motherhood.
Besides her husband Michael, Susan is survived by her beloved children: Melissa Wagner and husband Troy of Rindge NH, Michael J. Olson and wife Pear of Ashburn VA, Lauren Harrington of Billerica MA, Eric Olson and wife Bambi of Floresville TX, and Christopher Olson of Rindge NH. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Jordan and husband Brian, Austin, Callisto, Evan, and Dylan.
A celebration of Susan’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a Memorial contribution may be made to Open Medicine Foundation, supporting research for ME, a disease that Susan endured heroically, and knew to be chronically underfunded.
Open Medicine Foundation: https://www.omf.ngo/support-our-mission/
