1921 - 2018
Visitation
December 5, 20183 - 8 PM
Dolan Funeral Home
Funeral
December 6, 201810 AM
Dolan Funeral Home
Amelia “Mimi” (Moreno) Olsen, 97, of North Chelmsford, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on December 2, 2018. She was the wife of the late Dr. Everett V. Olsen Sr., former President of Lowell Technological Institute and first acting President of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. They shared 63 loving years of marriage prior to his death in 2004.
Born in Westford on April 8, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Alessandro and Sarafina (DiPalma) Moreno. Mimi received her education in the Westford School System.
In the late 1930’s, she developed a talent as a country music singer with a quintessential gift for yodeling, forming her own country band known as “The Moreno Texans.” This is how she met her loving husband. They performed alongside Nashville, Tennessee’s Grand Ole Opry stars at local social clubs throughout New England including the Village Barn in Greenwich Village, NY, and the Lone Star Ranch in Merrimack, NH. Along with country music, she had a love for the Big Band Era.
Mimi had a special talent for design and decorating. In 1944, she and her husband built their own home in North Chelmsford, and subsequently reconstructed their summer home in York Beach, ME, where they spent many wonderful summers with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved animals and showed that love by rescuing and adopting many dogs in need. Nothing brought Mimi more joy than her devotion as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.
She was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in North Chelmsford, a member of the Chelmsford Senior Citizen’s Club, and former member of the Faculty Wives of Lowell Technological Institute.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Edith S. and John B. Sousa of Ayer; three sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Alexander A. and Paula (Merriman) Olsen of Littleton, Everett V. and Susan (Collins) Olsen Jr. of North Chelmsford, and Norman R. and Suzanne (Romane) Olsen of Lowell; ten grandchildren and their spouses, John B. and Nancy (Sennett) Sousa Jr., Jane (Sousa) and Robert Farnworth, Alexander M. Olsen, Esq., Dr. Arne and Shaunelle (DeMille) Olsen, Amanda (Olsen) and John Burk, Astrid (Olsen) and Marc Paxton, Everett V. and Michelle (Lussier) Olsen III, Kristin Olsen-Kinglocke, Kirby (Olsen) and Shawn Gardner, and Kate (Olsen) and Yigal Falk; thirty great -grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She is survived by her sister Gloria Brown of Westford, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends including Geraldine (Olsen) Pease and her husband, David of York, Maine.
Mimi was predeceased by her sisters Philomena Lavigne, Mary Paquin and Frances Cross, and brothers, Marco, Michael and Leonard Moreno.
Visiting Hours Wednesday 3-8 pm. Funeral Thurs. 10 am at the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD. Burial in Fairview Cemetery in Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, it being her wish, donations may be made to the Everett V. Olsen, Sr. Scholarship Fund at Chelmsford High School Alumni Association C/O George Simonian, 6 Overlook Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824. Arrangements by DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 978-251-4041.
Patricia E. Conners
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Dear Mr. and Mrs. Olsen and family –
Please accept my sincerest condolences on the loss of Mrs. Amelia Olsen. May she rest in peace.
I will keep you all in my prayers.
Cindy Edwardsen
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Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Rick and Cindy Edwardsen
Baba Charlie
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My sincere and deepest condolences to all the families and friends of our Dear Mimi may Mimi RIP in the arms of the Lord.
Strength to all specialy my Dear friends Norman and Susanne.
Kirby Gardner
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No words, just tears…You will be forever loved and missed Nan ❤ Simply the best.
Maureen Anderson
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Condolences to the family. May she rest in peace and watch over you for years to come.
Ida (Barretto) Giunta
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Sincere condolences to the Moreno/Olsen families from the Barretto family.
We fondly remember Amelia’s Singing and yodeling during her early years in the 40’s.
We loved going to her concerts.