Susan Jean Olson, (née Raleigh), of Rochester, MA, formerly of Newton, MA, died peacefully after a courageous cancer battle, surrounded by her loving family, on February 2, 2020.

Susan was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 41 years, Marc A. Olson. Susan is survived by her two daughters, Kristen A. Flores and her husband Nelson P. Flores, and Kerry L. Hawkins and her husband Robert M. Hawkins, her four grandchildren, Matthew Flores, Edward (Teddy), Andrew, and Riley Hawkins, all of Charlestown, MA, her sister Sara E. Raleigh and her husband Robert C. Kuncio of Wilmington, NC, her sister Melissa Raleigh-Ross and her husband Marc L. Ross of Boston, MA, her brother Daniel M. Raleigh, of Alicante’, Spain, her brother-in-law Eric Olson of Falmouth, MA, her sister-in-law Leslie E. Olson of Quincy, MA, her sister-in law Regina Gillis and her husband James Gillis of Dripping, Springs, TX, the late Judith T. Olson and her many beloved nieces and nephews.

Susan was born on September 13, 1947 in Akron, Ohio, the first child of Mary R. (Sally) Latham Raleigh and Daniel Meade Raleigh. She married Marc A. Olson, her high school sweetheart, and together they built their family and their business, MA Olson & Associates, a manufacturer’s representative firm for specialized electrical and cable components, based in Newton, MA. After over 30 years, Susan and Marc relocated their business to Rochester, MA.

Susan had an abundance of energy and a positive outlook on life. She was an accomplished sailor, creating a lifetime of memories with her husband and girls on their beloved sailboat, Dancer, a talented gardener, an avid reader, a golfing enthusiast, and a long-term volunteer for Gifts To Give. Susan turned her passion and gift for gardening into a flourishing business, forming First Impressions, Perennial Gardeners. However, she was most proud of being a very active and fun-loving mother to her girls and Gamma to her grandchildren. Susan was known for her impromptu fort-making, lego-building, living room “camp outs”, field trip chaperoning, dance parties and as an enthusiastic cheerleader at her grandsons’ hockey and baseball games. Her grandchildren could do no wrong and brought her great joy. Susan will be remembered for being a warm and friendly people person and pleaser, and a fiercely loyal and generous friend. She was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, a former member of Wellesley Country Club, former member of the Country Club of New Bedford and a long-time member of The Beverly Yacht Club.

All are welcome to celebrate Susan’s life at her Funeral Mass on Friday, February 7, 2020 at 10am at St. Mary St. Catherine of Siena Parish, 55 Warren Street, Charlestown, MA. Visiting hours are omitted and burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Make A Wish Foundation, Make-A-Wish® America Gift Processing 1702 East Highland Ave., Suite 400 Phoenix, AZ 85016.