Florence J. Olesen

Date of Birth

Dec 31,1918

Date of Death

Mar 20,2008

FLORENCE J. OLESEN,Age 89, of rural Sycamore, passed away peacefully, Thursday, March 20, 2008 at her home, following several months of fragile health. BORN / EARLY YEARSShe was born December 31, 1918, in Batavia, IL where she grew up and graduated from high school with the class of 1936. MARRIAGE & FAMILYOn October 30, 1937 she was united in marriage to Oswald "Ossie" R. Olesen. They first made their home on the Alvin Long farm near Maple Park and, through the ensuing years, worked various farms throughout Kane County. Along the way, seven children arrived! -Mary, Rita, Larry, Ron, Laura, Linda and Colleen. In the mid-fifties they bought a farm of their own on Winters Road where scores of kids came to swim! In the mid-sixties Florence and Ossie opened Olesen’s Orbit, Maple Park’s first ice cream and pizza parlor. There Florence cooked for everyone from the farmers to the teens, every day and every night. In 1974, tragedy struck as Ossie suffered a fatal heart attack. Florence continued to live in Maple Park and enjoyed spending time with her husband’s long time friend, Mark Olsen. When they parted in the mid-eighties, Florence retired to Florida for a few years before returning to Maple Park where she eventually, made her home with her daughter, Colleen and her family. In her later years, she spent many happy hours with an old family friend, Grant "Grantski" Larson. Although nature would gradually erase some memories and the present sometimes became the past, her love of family, friends and kids of all ages, never waned and she enjoyed life and love to the very last. SURVIVORS She is survived by her seven children and their families:Mary (Wendell) Dienst andRita (Gary) Johnson, both of Maple Park, ILLarry (Lee) Olesen of Pentwater, MI,Ronald "Ozzie" Olesen of Maple Park, ILLaura (Jim) Carrier of VirginiaLinda (Armando) Soto of Miami, FLColleen (Chuck) Stephan of Sycamore, IL18 GrandchildrenMary’s: Sue (Don Carter) Zahnow and Mike (Lisa) Dienst, Mark (Teresa) Dienst;Rita’s: Dawn (Jay Jacobsen) Weber, Rick (Paige) Johnson and Doug(Nicole) Johnson;Larry’s: Tammy (Jim) Tyrell, Missy(Glenn) Carnell, Cindy (Joel) Spaulding and Randy (Kristen) Olesen;Ron’s : Ira (Kim) Olesen, Zach (Kathleen) Olesen, Caleb Olesen and Gabe (Krista) Olesen;Laura’s: David Carrier and Angie Carrier;Linda’s: Bethany (Roddy) Gomez, Monica (Don) Fogler, Brock (Hoanca) Schneider and Emily Soto;Colleen’s: Tim (Susan) Stover and Paul (Alvina) Stover;29 great grandchildren (and two on the way, one in October, the other in May!)And one great-great grandson.PRECEDED She is preceded in death by her parents, Axel and Hilda Marie (Johanson) Johnson, her husband, Ossie, one granddaughter, Crystal Lynn Olesen and four siblings: Ella Thorsen, Lillian Noren, Esther Schow and Janice Mullins.MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Florence’ name to benefit her favorite charities. Memorials checks may be made to the Florence Olesen Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. View the complete obituary and leave a tribute or memory at www.conleycare.com or forward correspondence to the family at the above address. For information call Conley Funeral Home at (630) 365-6414 (1-800-8-CONLEY).

Memorial visitation and services will be held on Monday, March 31, 2008 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn. Friends may call from 5pm to 7:30pm with services to begin at 8pm. Pastor Janet Hunt, of the Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, will officiate.

Following cremation, private interment will later conclude at Gardner Cemetery, Maple Park, where Florence will be laid to rest next to Ozzie.

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