Obituary of Maria Elena Olszewski

Maria Elena Olszewski, 70, of Eagleville, PA, passed away on February 9, 2018, surrounded by her loving family, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She was born in Cuenca, Ecuador on May 15, 1947, the daughter of the late Arsenio and Hortensia (Perez) Marchan. Maria Elena was a graduate of the Instituto Selecto of Guayaquil, Ecuador, and also studied at New York University. A resident of Eagleville for 45 years, she was a faithful parishioner of Saint Eleanor Catholic Church of Collegeville where she was active in the Women's Guild, member of the Padre Pio prayer group, and deeply devoted to Our Blessed Mother. Maria Elena worked in food service for the Methacton School District for 25 years, but her family was the center of her life. She treasured spending time with her family at home, enjoying music, and travelling. Her creative talents included jewelry and paper crafting, artificial flower arrangements, crocheting, and knitting more than one hundred baby blankets for charity. She eagerly shared her creative skills with her cherished granddaughters. In her quiet gentle loving way, she cared for everyone who knew her, all God's creatures, and the natural environment. She had a gift for always finding a way to make people laugh or smile. Open to new adventures, Maria Elena bravely joined a group of FDNY firefighters, including a cousin, in a 9/11 memorial skydiving event. Maria Elena is survived by her beloved and devoted husband of 48 years, Watson Olszewski of Eagleville; adoring son, John Arsenio (& Melissa) Olszewski of Reno, NV; loving daughter, Elena Lucia (& Brent) Shroyer of Lititz, PA; awesome granddaughters, Riley & Zoey (Shroyer); and many dear nieces and nephews; sisters, Laura Spivey, Alicia Marchan, and Elsa Henderson; brother, Enrique Marchan. Maria Elena was also preceded in death by her sister, Aida M. de Fabre, and brother, Colon Marchan. Family and friends are invited to visit on Monday, February 19, 2018, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at Saint Eleanor Catholic Church, 647 Locust Street, Collegeville, PA 19426, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at the Church. Interment will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Maria Elena's family would appreciate donations in her memory made to: Saint Eleanor Memorial Fund; Amigos De Jesus Orphanage (Honduras), www.amigosdejesus.org; The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.LLS.org/donate; The Cancer Research Institute, www.cancerresearch.org; American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org; Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc., www.cancertutor.com/donate; Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House, www.pennmedicine.org. Maria has been living in Norristown for 45 years. She was a faithful Catholic and parishioner of Saint Eleanor Church of Collegeville where she was active in the Women's Guild.