Natick: Olive May (Seeley) Simms of Natick died peacefully Friday, June 18, 2010 in Framingham. She was 82 years old. Olive, called “Lolly” by many of her family, was the beloved wife of Robert Simms. They celebrated 60 years of marriage on February 4, 2010.
She leaves two daughters, Rebecca M. Dowse of South Paris, ME and Valerie A. Chase and her husband Thomas E. Chase, Jr. of Gilford, N.H.; a sister Angie Campbell of Kennebunk, ME; three grandchildren Jennifer Curran of Tampa, FL, Elizabeth Chase of Atlanta, GA and Thomas R. Chase of Killingworth, CT and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by seven brothers and sisters.
Olive was born and raised in Stratton, Maine. She moved to Natick while in high school, graduating from Natick High School in 1945. From there she attended Framingham Union School of Nursing, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1948. She was a nurse for over 50 years, specializing in ob/gyn nursing. Working for Dr. Thomas Paull in Framingham, she helped deliver many local babies.
Her favorite pastimes were working in her gardens, camping and watching the Red Sox and Bruins games. She took great pride in her vegetable gardens, especially her strawberry beds. The roses she tended with such care are still blooming in the flower garden at her Natick home. For many years, she and her family went camping at the Sebago Lake and Moosehead Lake areas of Maine. If a Red Sox or Bruins game was on, everything came to a standstill, as she was and avid fan of both teams. When returning to her hometown of Stratton, she could often be found fishing for brook trout in the local streams.
For many years while her daughters were in school, she was the local Girl Scout leader of Troop #464. She took her troop on several trips, including one to Washington, D.C. and another to New York City. When she did have “quiet time”, she loved to crochet afghans, mixing and matching the colors of yarns in to beautiful patterns.
Visitations will be held on Monday, June 21, 2010 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Rd (Off Rte 30), Wayland.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 11:30 am at Dell Park Cemetery, Pond Street, Natick.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc, 330 Congress St, 5th floor, Boston, MA 02110 or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St, Framingham, MA 01702 or the charity of the donor’s choice.
For online condolences and directions, please visit www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com.