George F. Olesen, a longtime resident of Andover died on April 5th in Hospice at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen. He was 88.
George's heart belonged to his Cambridge upbringing. The only child of Kathryn E. Flynn Olesen and George F. Olesen. Both of George's parents were also only children and yet as a result of growing up in the family homestead, George gathered together countless relatives he was proud to call cousins.
Adding to his cousins, George cherished his many Cambridge friends. Some of those friendships extended more than 80 years. George hosted summer gatherings between his Lee ACfriends and Sennot Park pals at his home. Weekly Saturday night dinners became a highlight of his Cambridge memories.
George attended Cambridge schools and a memorable post graduate year at Buckingham. Brown, and Nichols. He graduated from Boston College in 1958.
George married Maureen Dillon in 1961. They had two children, Mary Beth and John. They moved to Andover when George began working for Courier Citizen in Lowell. Their family flourished in Andover making wonderful friends starting on Joseph St. Having served on the Cambridge School Committee for 3 terms, he ran and was elected to the Andover School Committee.
A devout Catholic, Jesuit trained, George was a loyal member of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Andover and faithful communicant.George opened his own printing company, OBIS Co., in Manchester, NH in addition to his tax preparation business which he grew into a financial consulting business which he ran until his death.
George was predeceased by his parents and his two sisters in law, Kathleen F. Hidenfelter and Patricia A. Garvey.
In addition to his wife Maureen and children; John and Mary Beth, he is survived by his son in law Wayne R. Powell and daughter in law Denise M.Olesen, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; MaryEllen and her husband Bill O'Brien of Worcester and Kenneth and his wife Adrienne Hidenfelter of Delaware, grandchildren; Stephanie and her husband Jonathan Fergione, Meghan Olesen and her partner Alan Garcia, Kimberly Hill and Shane Olesen, and great grandchildren; Griffin, Leo, Molly and Romeo plus many nieces, nephews and god children.
George's Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 198 Haggetts Pond Road, Andover on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are most welcome to attend. Calling hours will be held in the church on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 4 to 7 PM. Interment will be privately held. Donations in George's memory may be made to the Daughter's of St. Paul, 50 St. Paul's Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home of Andover. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.