Nancy Olsen Lagas

January 7, 1930-April 14, 2013

Born Nancy Elizabeth Harris in Statesville, North Carolina, on Tuesday January 7th, the second child of Carl and Estelle Harris, she died at home on Sunday April 14th. Nancy grew up in Durham, North Carolina and attended both Hollins College and the Juilliard. Her mezzo-soprano talented voice blessed many ears, and now is in heavenly force, with Handel’s Hallelujah chorus her favorite piece. She celebrated 83 years of life, enjoyed two marriages and beat breast cancer twice. She delighted in her 4 children: 3 daughters and 1 son. She spoiled 5 grandchildren, sailed 6 cruises, and welcomed 7 more grandchildren & great- grandchildren from her second marriage. She relied on the Lord’s strength for 8+ years of juggling work, returning to school to earn an AA degree, and raising 4 teenagers as a young widow. She worked 9+ years of retail at Bullock’s Westwood encompassing houseware sales to auditing. She maintained a perfect “10” in the eyes of family and friends for her consistent southern hospitality, loving and forgiving legacy. She possessed an amazing ability to listen, encourage, laugh and carry on despite circumstances, grounded by a relentless trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Her life verse was Romans 8:28. She loved the Lord and loved others: A life lived honoring God in faith and obediance. Her first marriage in 1950 to Dr. Jack G. Olsen of 18 years duration, established their California home in 1955. After losing him to cancer in 1968, she tackled many “bucket list” items, including a Holy Land trip in 1969, of lasting significance. She re-married in 1976 to Jack J. Lagas, a Dutch-American, introduced through a match-making friend. She celebrated 30 years of marriage with Jack Lagas, losing him to Parkinson’s disease in 2006.

She is survived by daughters (and son-in-laws) Nancy Olsen, Mary (Steve) Strain, and Patty (Bill) Knutson and son, Jack Olsen, Jr. Nancy lost her brothers Carl Harris Jr (1940’s), and Thomas Harris (1986). In addition, she is survived by son, Robert (Mary) Lagas, daughter-in-law, Tineke Lagas and predeceased by son, John Lagas. She has a host of grandchildren (and spouses): Katie Knutson, Gordy Knutson, Matt Knutson, Andrew Strain, Shannon Strain, Diane (Cameron) Yates, Michael Lagas (who also died on 4/14/13 of cancer), David (Gehan) Lagas, Cathy Lagas (soon 2B J.J. Griego) and Jason Lagas. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Peggy Nicholson Harris, 4 nieces/nephews: Katherine (Joe) Hutchison, Suzanne (Mark) Rhodes, Tom (Darrlleen) Harris Jr, and Carl (Jacqueline) Harris. There are numerous great nieces, great nephews, friends and family stretching to the Netherlands.

Her memorial service will be held Saturday May 25th at 11:00 am at Evangelical Free Church 2315-Ventura Blvd in Camarillo, California 93010 (805) 482-1200 www.evfreecam.org. Nancy’s express wish is that no flowers be sent to her service, instead, to donate them to either a hospital or nursing home. Any donations, if desired, can be made to Camarillo Hospice, www.camarillohospice.org, or a charity of your choice.