Andrea Olynick

Andrea Olynick, a woman of faith who showed loving kindness towards all who knew her, left us on September 27, 2024, ten days after her 68th birthday. She was an emotional rock for family and friends who could talk with her about anything.

Born on September 17, 1956, in Amityville, New York, Andrea was named after the famous transatlantic ocean liner SS Andrea Doria. While growing up surrounded by family on Long Island, Andrea’s childhood was marred by the tragic death of her father Angelo due to a heart attack and her own difficulties facing life-threatening bacterial meningitis. She attended Amityville High School where she was a cheerleader, and received an Associate’s degree from SUNY Farmingdale in Secretarial Science.

Andrea’s professional career included tenures at Burger King Corporate and Digital Equipment Corporation. She enjoyed her weekday routine of riding an early morning train into New York City, buying a breakfast bialy, and reading the newspaper at the office before work. While at DEC she met the man who would become her husband and bring her into a new phase of life as homemaker. On November 14, 1987 Andrea married John Olynick and would go on to have two children and one grandchild. They lived in many states during their 36 years of marriage including New Hampshire, New York, California, Connecticut, Florida, and North Carolina.

Andrea created a home environment filled with love and thoughtfulness. Her children enjoyed meticulously selected snack assortments every afternoon after school. For two years she homeschooled her son Michael, and as a curious learner herself she maintained an excellent home library of books covering topics from English classics to watercolor painting, geography, and children’s books (especially ones with good illustrations). She took an interest in tennis along with her children and was known to take them on shopping sprees to HomeGoods collecting pretty home decorations. Andrea’s mother Elvira found comfort living in her daughter’s home during her waning years. Extended family looked forward to visiting each Thanksgiving to taste Andrea’s much-loved escarole soup made according to the family recipe.

Faith was a central part of Andrea’s adult life. Her Bible was full of notes, highlights, and earmarked pages. She had a particular devotion to Saint Faustina Kowalska’s Message of Divine Mercy, made two pilgrimages to Ireland, and led many nonbelievers to realize the enduring love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Andrea was diagnosed with lung cancer in the spring of 2024 and faced mortality with bravery and confidence in divine providence. During her last months, she exemplified Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s words that “Those who face death with God’s love in their hearts begin to feel that peace that they will enjoy forever in heaven.”

Andrea is preceded in death by her parents, Angelo and Elvira, and sister, Lorraine. She is survived by her husband John; brothers John and Richard; daughter Justine and granddaughter Olivia; son Michael. Her departure leaves an unfillable void in their lives, yet they find comfort in the memories shared during life and the promise of meeting again in Heaven.

A funeral service for Andrea will be held Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Matthew Catholic Church Chapel, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28277.

To honor Andrea’s memory, please offer mass intentions at Saint Matthew Catholic Church or your local Catholic parish.