Memories of Leah June Olsen

In memory of

Leah June Olsen

Ellijay, GA

July 10, 1937 - January 2, 2024

Jul 10, 1937 - Jan 2, 2024

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John D'Amico

My Mom, I'm going to miss her very much. She was her own person, she was no "sheep", didn't do or say things because everyone else was doing it. She was never materialistic, didn't want the best of anything except relationships, conversation and peoples health.

Brave & Tough

She was one of the bravest & toughest people I know, which trickled down to us kids, especially my brother Nick. She was never afraid of anything, be it health operations, bad people, bad situations, it didnt matter, she would push through. If she was happy with you, your set, but if she wasn't you knew it, and never had to wonder what she was thinking!

Kind

She was mostly kind in a giving way, a good hostess, a good listener, she would give advise, she helped me after my son Michael's tragic death, she would help me with my loss, always wrapping it around God & Jesus, and advise to " be still & listen as god said" She always told me to stop and smell the roses, dont worry about tomorrows.

Sweet / Soft

She had a sweet side of her, she liked to hug, growing up she would sing to me, help me with things, later in life listening to my music, she would get on a singing subject and sing something, she had a surprisingly good voice! She would often just sing in the air something as she was cooking or when ever, she just had a very soft side that would sometimes come out in a Wisper.

Smart

She was "book smart" could learn anything that she could read, Became a nurse, R. N. , worked in floor, emergency room,(didnt like seeing busted up people) then I.C.U, then C.C.U, then dialysis, and later in visiting nurse in homes, and expert witness for attorneys.

Humor

I will miss her funny side, she would say these smart-alecky coments, not always kosher, but I saw the witty funny side of her with that smirk on her face. Im sorry to see all her suffering in her last 40 years, especially the last 10 months, she was very liked from the nurses at the Ellijay home. You will truly be missed, and look forward to seeing you again.

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Melanie Fernandez

To my cousins Terry, Nick and John go my sincere condolences on the death of your beautiful mom. She was one of a kind and the world needed her then and needs her now. She will be remembered with love by many people because she was love. Thanks be to God.

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Melanie Fernandez

My Aunt Leah was an unusual person. Very intelligent yet not self-seeking in her life, she preferred to shine her light on the accomplishment and talents of others. An astute listener, she was ready to give comfort and inject humor into some of life’s most perplexing situations. She was the perfect audience to others and often had just the right quip in any given situation.

Leah, who did love horses at an early age, was the first one to put me on a horse when I was a toddler. She was only 12 years older than I and we grew to be friends with much in common. We often spoke about our reading of the Bible and I know she took her faith seriously, quietly, and acted on it in privacy, careful not to make herself the object of adulation for her faith. She consistently gave credit to God for all of her gifts and talents and was a very compassionate worker in the health care field, seeking to comfort those who were in need of it.

I have very many fond memories of being along side of Leah in my life, the most edifying of which was the time we spent together taking care of my grandmother, her mother. We drew closer, as we both showed our love for this woman in our own ways. She helped me to accept my grandmother’s passing as a natural course of events, and not to try to persist against all odds to prolong her life when it did not serve the greater good for my 96 year old grandmother. She sought to keep her comfortable and allow her dignity to be preserved at the time God chose to call her home. We shared anecdotes and stories of the woman and we stayed by her side for all of the time it took her to pass. When the final time came, Leah’s gentleness with me was greatly appreciated.

The verse in the Bible that reminds me most of my aunt Leah, is 1 Corinthians 13 on Love.

“And now I will show you the most excellent way.
If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”

I have seen Leah in many of the trials in her life, including that of living with the intractable pain of rheumatoid arthritis, and she never once blamed anyone else, nor reacted in a mean manner, even while suffering the greatest pain. Her thought was always to conduct herself in a dignified way and focus on the needs of others.

When persons such as Leah come into our lives, it is indeed a blessing and they both comfort and teach us in their quiet, unassuming way, that life is short and to savor every morsel of it. Whether it was making homemade sweet bread at the holidays with her or with her hosting her own siblings, she was the perfect hostess to a savory experience and it was always filled with fun. I enjoyed family “get togethers” with her.

I remember when Leah helped me with my own mother in her trials in life. She needed a place of refuge and Leah not only provided it but pointed out that my mom’s poetry was a thing to admire. I had pretty much taken my mom’s creative gifts for granted but Leah’s praise for it, opened my eyes to it in a renewed way that enriched both of our lives. It was the first positive comment I had ever heard about my own mom, and it was comforting to hear. That was Leah, shining her own light on someone else.

I also admired my aunt’s ability to seek out and uplift the youngest among us. She truly enjoyed the minds of the younger generation and was always enabling them to have some self-esteem built at a tender age. She was the perfect audience to many, encouraging and giving them unconditional approval for their gifts. She really appreciated youth and engaged them in conversation and activities to show them their self-worth. For instance, Leah hired my son at 15 for teaching her the computer and setting up her electronics. My son was so proud of being looked up to by Leah that he often speaks of her in fondness for her being. He may never had had the opportunity to share time with her without her seeking him out, talking to him and getting his opinion of things. It was one of the most positive interactions he had as a youth with an older person at all, let alone in the family. I am most grateful to her.

I learned from Leah while watching her navigate life, that you do not have to be rich and famous and a superstar to cause a positive influence in other’s lives. A quiet, gentle act of attention, or a positive ripple in someone else’s life can be meaningful as well as instructive, as giving them a million dollars. I am so thankful for the life lessons she showed me in her quiet, kind and unassuming way. I miss her but I have many fond memories in my life of her and her goodness to me, to keep me company. Thank you, Aunt Leah, for being who you were and being in my life. May you rest in eternal peace.

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In response to "What did you learn from Leah?"

Comments:

terry almaguer

What a beautiful testimony for my mom ... thank you so much, Melanie! What a beautiful testimony for my mom ... thank you so much, Melanie! What a beautiful testimony for my mom ... thank you... Read more

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Raluca Tudosa

2023, Woodstock GA

Tornado day

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Comments:

terry almaguer

I love this picture ... I will miss visiting her on our weekly dinner dates here! Thank you, Luca I love this picture ... I will miss visiting her on our weekly dinner dates here! Thank you, Luca I love this picture ... I will miss visiting her on... Read more

Raluca Tudosa

My heart hurts whenever i am looking on that side of my building!! She will be missed alot!! My heart hurts whenever i am looking on that side of my building!! She will be missed alot!! My heart hurts whenever i am looking on that side of... Read more

Mary Barron-Lopez

My heart goes out to all of you. When we were kids, it was like one big family with 2 dads and 2 moms! I loved her very much. She was a wonderful nurse and great cook. Most of all, she gave me my very first and lifelong best friend, Terry. I love you, Leah. Rest peacefully and don’t cuss up there!💗🙏

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Comments:

terry almaguer

Yup ... you know mom! ;) Yup ... you know mom! ;) Yup ... you know mom! ;)

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Victoria D'Amico

Raluca Tudosa

Victoria D'Amico

Raluca Tudosa

Victoria D'Amico

Raluca Tudosa

Victoria D'Amico

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Victoria D'Amico

Woodstock, GA, USA

Leah & Taylor

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Raluca Tudosa

Louis Williams

May our GOD of ALL Comfort… abide with you , Terry , Robert and Family…

https://youtu.be/9qYZros8oHI?…">https://youtu.be/9qYZros8oHI?…

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terry almaguer

Raluca Tudosa

Comments:

terry almaguer

This is probably the most recent picture of mom ... just months ago, as she was living in the Nursing Care... Read more This is probably the most recent picture of mom ... just months ago, as she was living in the Nursing Care Facility in Ellijay.... Read more This is probably the most recent picture of mom ...... Read more