Born January 4, 1931, in Newton, MA to Leonard and Cecelia (Panella), she grew up in Newton, MA and graduated from Newton High School in 1948.
She worked at Metropolitan Life Insurance, for the US Government at White Sands Proving Grounds in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Raytheon Manufacturing Co., and finally at Vita Needle Company, before retiring in 1984.
During retirement, she spent many hours volunteering at the Bourne Community Building; working in the dining room, volunteering for the Friends of the Council on Aging, working with the Crafty Ladies, knitting, crocheting, sewing and crafting.
She loved, and was loved very much by, her husband, children and grandchildren.
Olympia was preceded in death by her husband, James Walker, her parents, her brother; Leonard Panella, and sisters; Clementina Gattiker and Jennie Gangi.
Those left to treasure her memory are her daughter Patricia Willbanks and her husband Jeffrey of Buzzards Bay, her daughter Susan Walker and her husband Richard Walunas of Framingham, and her daughter Carol Dexter and husband Eric of Foresthill, CA. Also surviving are her sister Cecelia Olsen of Waltham and two grandchildren, Kevin and Megan Walunas – both of whom she adored, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at 10:00 - 11:45 AM at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 Macarthur Blvd in Bourne, MA on Friday July 26, 2024, followed by a funeral service at 11:45 AM in the funeral home. She will be interred at the Massachusetts National Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Olympia’s name to the Bourne Council on Aging, 239 Main Street, Bourne, MA 02532 or The Friends of Bourne Food Pantry, 121 Main Street, Bourne, MA 02532.
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