February 18, 2011
Molander, O. Gloria
Olga Gloria (Olson) Molander, a resident of the Scandinavian Living Center in West Newton for the past year, and formerly of Dedham for 43 years, died Friday, February 18th, 2011 at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Brighton after a brief illness. She was 86. Gloria was born August 18, 1924 in Everett, Massachusetts, the only daughter of Anders and Olga (Johnson) Olson, emmigrants from Sweden. She grew up in Everett and graduated from Everett High School. Gloria worked as a merchandiser for Sandy’s Department Store in West Roxbury and for Sparks in Norwood, and then spent 10 years working for Shawmut Bank in Needham before retiring in the late 1980’s. She was a former member of the Riverdale Congregational Church in Dedham where she served as the Superintendant of the Sunday School, and a current member of the Allin Cong- regational Church in Dedham. She was also a member of the Viking Club, Stenkil Lodge, in Quincy, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Scandinavian Living Center in West Newton for 20 years. Gloria enjoyed oil painting, needlework, and she loved travelling worldwide. She made numerous trips to Hawaii and well as visiting many countries in Europe and Scandinavia. Gloria was the wife of the late Frederick Robert Molander and of the late Woodrow “Woody” Johnson; the mother of the late William Molander and the late Lynne Cavanaugh; and the grandmother of the late Keith Cavanaugh and the late Paul Cavanaugh. She is survived by her son, Dr. Frederick R. Molander Jr., and his wife Deborah, of Yarmouth, Maine; her brother Eric Olson, of Bourne, MA; and two grandsons, Gregg Molander of Washington, DC and Eric Molander of New York City, New York. Her Memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 26th at 11 AM at the Allin Congregational Church, 683 High Street, Dedham, MA. After cremation Gloria will be buried with her husband Frederick in Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham. Donations in Gloria’s memory to the Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham Street, West Newton, MA 02465 would be appreciated.
Comments(2)
Have know Gloria since the early 50’s when she became Sunday School superintendant at the Riverdale Congregational Church here in Dedham. My fondest memory? Once a month there would be a birthday Sunday and if we had a birthday that month we would bring in our pennies (one for each year). After depositing our pennies we each would get a ”peck” on the cheek. One of my classmates started the ”procedure” of returning to the back of the line so as to get another smooch! As I recall this worked maybe once!
A last farewell to the dearest of friends, someone who was always there ready to offer advice. She had a wonderful sense of humor and was most resilient to all that life handed her. We spent many hours together working on projects for the living center, we travelled and we went out for a bite to eat, something Gloria loved to do. There were always many laughs. She will be remembered with such warmth in my heart and with so many fond memories. Now you are at peace, never to be forgotten.
Suzanne Frederick