Olga “Ola” Elzbieta (Toporowska) Dichter, 89, of Andover, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 24, at High Pointe House Hospice in Haverhill after a long illness, surrounded by her beloved husband of nearly 70 years, Wilhelm, and their children.
Olga was born on June 21, 1936 in Warsaw, Poland, a daughter of Marian Toporowski and Izabella Gruzewska. In 1944, she survived the Warsaw Uprising, during which over 200,000 people were killed in the city. She was raised and educated in Poland, eventually graduating from the University of Warsaw in 1957 with a Master’s Degree in Polish Philology. She then came to the United States in December of 1968, with her husband, their 2 sons and black cocker spaniel named Ida, settling in Westbury, New York. She visited Warsaw in 1971, and because she refused to cooperate with the Polish secret police, she was later denied entry into Poland when her parents were dying.
Ola, as she was affectionately known to most, was an innovating high school educator in Poland in the 1950s. She was beloved by her students and many of them became her lifelong friends. Later, in the United States, she was the Head Librarian in Ellington CT, where she modernized their book collection and cataloging system. She was a prolific correspondent, whose letters were collected and read aloud in Poland, raising the spirits of those left behind. She was a voracious reader of literature, and a master at word games, including Scrabble, the New York Times crossword and British cryptic crosswords. She loved listening to classical music, especially Chopin. She was a loving and deeply involved grandmother (Babcia) who treasured her growing family above all else.
She is survived by her husband of almost 70 years, the noted author Wilhelm Dichter of Andover, their children, Bronek Dichter and his wife, Patricia, of Brookline, Julius Dichter and his wife, Susan, of Litchfield, CT, and Elizabeth Barrett and her husband, Andy, of Tewksbury, her grandchildren, Jan Rabinowicz of Montague, Thomas Dichter and his wife, Sotonye Imadojemu, of Brookline, Michal Dichter and his wife, Courtney, of Albuquerque, NM, Daniel Dichter and his wife, Jessica, of Stow, Jacob Dichter and Alexandra Cid of Ansonia, CT, Busia Rabinowicz of Northfield, MN, Cora Barrett and Daniel Correa of Newton, Tess Barrett and Mia Iwicki of Tewksbury, Roman Barrett of Tewksbury, and her great grandchildren Odaro Dichter and Tarim Dichter both of Brookline.
Additionally, she is survived by her cousins including Alice Horowitz-Barton of Scottsdale, AZ, Teresa Holzer of Overton, NV, Maria Gronostaj of Sweden, and Grazyna Valy also of Sweden, Charles Unter of England, Terry Unter of Maryland and Julian Unter of England.
All are welcome to attend her visitation on Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. and her funeral service which will be held at 11 a.m. at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876 followed by a procession to Spring Grove Cemetery in Andover for burial. Ola loved flowers, but if you choose to make a memorial donation in her name, please consider High Pointe House Hospice in Haverhill, MA. Find us on Facebook or use this website to leave the family a message of condolence at any time.