Olive Prunier

Olive (Brousseau) Prunier, 101

Oxford - Olive Louise (Brousseau) Prunier died peacefully on January 25, 2021. She was predeceased in 2011 by Louis Prunier, her husband of 68 years, with whom she raised 8 children.

Olive was born in Rehoboth, MA, in 1919, to Wilfred and Mary Louise (Antaya) Brousseau, seventh of eleven children. She graduated from Rhode Island State College with a BS in Home Economics.

During World War II, Olive worked at the Florida State Agricultural Station while Lou was at Fort Gordon Johnston. In 1961-62 she taught home economics at Oxford Junior High School. In 1963, Olive became a Worcester County Extension Agent where she organized and supported 4-H clubs until retiring in 1981.

Known for her unstoppable energy, Olive always had a project going. She had a remarkable sense of color and created over 100 gorgeous quilts. She loved watching wild birds and she nurtured beautiful flower gardens.

A prolific baker, Olive was especially famous for her pies. She was also known for her unorthodox and creative use of leftover ingredients in the kitchen. She was an impatient cook who was frequently heard saying, "I'll just jack this up a bit," as she turned the burner up. Her children joked that her biography should be titled My Mother Cooked on High.

Olive was sharp as a tack. A good day included a game of Scrabble, which she loved to win. She was an avid reader and a regular library patron. She followed the news closely and was thrilled at the outcome of the 2020 election.

She was welcoming and generous, and she loved having guests in her home. She cared deeply about people and accepted everyone with an open mind and heart. She is remembered fondly by dear friends of all ages from around the world.

Olive leaves her children Mary-Louise Eggimann of Shrewsbury, MA, Michelle Wittstein of Coventry, CT, Martha Jean of Exeter, NH, Thomas Prunier and wife Vivian of Westminster, VT, Chris Wings of Wendell, MA, John Prunier of Warren, MA, Miles Prunier of Oxford, MA, and Jessie T. Stepanian of Methuen, MA. She leaves her grandchildren Mollie Wittstein, Jeanette Wittstein, Max Wittstein, Erin Germanowski, Lisa Manni, Ben Germanowski, Sarah Law, Rachel Prunier, James Prunier, Antavis Geoffroy, Lee Prunier, Leslie Prunier, Laika Stepanian, Cal Stepanian and 11 great-grandchildren. She also leaves her sister Catherine Manning of Epping, NH. She was predeceased by an infant son David Patrick Prunier and by brothers Omer, Louis, Philip, Laurence and Ernest Brousseau and sisters Leona Waterman, Edna Bryan, Frances Pimentel, and Doe Brousseau.

Funeral services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of the Oxford Free Public Library (339 Main Street, Oxford, MA, 01540) or to Abby's House (52 High Street, Worcester, MA, 01609).