Suzanne Johnson Olson, 58, Formerly of Tewksbury

TEWKSBURY, MA — Mrs. Suzanne Johnson Olson, a faithful Patriots and Red Sox fan, died peacefully on September 29, 2016 at age 58, in her Newport News home. She was in the loving care of her family and hospice, after a 4 month courageous battle with cancer. In her tough battle Suzanne stayed very concerned about her family, and ensuring that her grandchildren were taken care of. Suzanne made sure the kids were all ready for school this year. In addition, Suzanne loved her visits with her sister Sandy. She enjoyed her time with the grandkids by attending award ceremonies, coloring pictures, going to the beach, going to the movies, and cooking for the family.

She was the wife of Robert Carl Olson, with whom she had celebrated a 37th wedding anniversary on June 24, 2016. Besides her husband, she leaves three daughters, Heather Olson and her spouse Carl Gates, Alisha Olson and her spouse Tony Farley, and Lindsay Olson all of Newport News; four grandchildren, Owen Gates, Mallory Gates, Jayden Farley and Niyah Farley; her neighborhood daughter Ember (Strait) Reidel; her twin sister, Sandra Martino and her husband Dennis of Townsend, MA; her step-father, William Cuskey of Tewksbury; her cat, Ernie; her dog; Chico, and many nieces nephews and cousins.

Suzanne was born in February 1958, three minutes before her twin sister Sandy, to the late Charles L. Johnson and the late Lorraine (Giannone) Johnson Cuskey. Suzanne adored her father and spent countless hours helping him in the yard and helping him fix his car. She spent her childhood in Tewksbury, Massachusetts and graduated from Tewksbury Memorial High School with the class of 1976. She met her husband there, and they relocated to Newport News, Virginia in 1993. She spent her days raising her three daughters and enjoyed volunteering for Nelson Elementary School and Denbigh High School Field Hockey. Newport News quickly became her favorite place of all the places she had lived.

Her greatest joy was her grandchildren. She was an amazing grandmother who always put them before herself. She spent her days caring for them so that her children could work. There was nothing she couldn’t handle and she was willing to do anything for her kids and grandkids, even running into a burning house. A moment we will never forget.

In 2013 she moved to a retirement community in DeBary, FL where she enjoyed reading, going to the pool, taking long walks with her friend Kathy, drinking an occasional Bacardi & Diet Coke with PLENTY of ice, and racing golf carts. She enjoyed the sunshine, warm weather, and the carefree life but always missed a piece of her heart…her grandchildren. She lived for their visits and loved taking them to Sea World. Memories they will always cherish.

Suzanne was a great cook and loved to feed her family. No one would ever complain of an empty stomach if she had anything to do with it! She enjoyed keeping snacks on hand for the grandkids to enjoy, including her favorite, devil dogs. Her homemade spaghetti with her fresh grown ingredients was a family favorite. Spaghetti dinners were a time when the entire family came together, a cherished memory, shared by all. Spaghetti Sundays will never be the same.

Visiting hour will be Wednesday morning, October 5th from 9:00am until 11:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. Burial will follow in Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to; Habitat for Humanity PGW P.O. Box 1443 Newport News, VA 23601.

Obituary and photo courtesy of the Tewksbury Funeral Home