A funeral mass was offered Nov. 19 at St. John Vianney R.C. Church, Colonia for Rosemary Olvesen, former “First Lady” of Weehawken, wife of former Mayor Arthur O. Olvesen. She passed away Nov.15. Rosemary attended St. Joseph Grammar School and Memorial High School in West New York, where she was born and raised. She trained in Nursing at St. Mary’s Hospital in Hoboken. Following graduation, she worked as an O.R. Nurse.
She married Arthur in 1947 and worked as a nurse in North Hudson Hospital in Weehawken. After she received her degree from Jersey City University with a degree in Health Education, she worked as a Nurse in the Weehawken School System, until she retired in 1986. For the past 25 years, Rosemary has lived in Colonia, since the death of her husband in 1988.
Rosemary was a Hudson County Democratic Committee Woman. She was a member and former president of the Weehawken Education Society and a member of the Weehawken Theater Club. She was also a member of the NEA and NJEA. In Colonia, she was a member of the Seniors Club, the AARP and the Rosary Society of St. John Vianney Church. She traveled for enjoyment with New Beginnings and Sparkle Tours. She was an avid reader and enjoyed making latch hook rugs.
Rosemary is survived by her eight children, Rosemary Olvesen, Jo Ann Couch and her husband Rocky, Anita Hammond, Arthur Olvesen and his wife Rosemary, Michael Olvesen and his wife Marianne, Chris Olvesen and his wife Frieda, Karen Lawlor and her husband Michael and Diane Sabato and her husband Robert Vanzyle; 11 grandchildren; four great grandchildren, and her brothers James and Beamin Clough. Services arranged by the Walter J. Johnson Funeral Home, Clark.