Sophia "Sunny" Olshesky

Sophia "Sunny" Olshesky passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 18, 2022 after a long decline due to dementia, and a recent partial hip replacement which she was slowly recovering from, and then took a turn for the worse.  Sophia was born in Columbia, CT on September 25, 1923 to the late John Szegda and Karolina Kendzior Szegda.  Sunny was predeceased her husband John J. Olshesky in 2012.  John & Sophia met at a dance at the Polish National Home in Hartford, CT, and were married October 3, 1953.  They shared a remarkable marriage that lasted for 59 years.  At the time she met John she was a bank employee of Willimantic Bank and Trust.  Sophia was a kind, caring and compassionate person.  She  spent her entire life making others feel loved and welcome.  Alzheimer's may have taken Mom's memory but it did not change the loving and gentle person she was.  She loved to make the world a more beautiful place by growing flowers, sewing, embroidery, quilting, nature walks, feeding the birds and quilting.  Sophia and John were also avid duplicate bridge players for many, many years. Sophia leaves two daughters, Janice M. Olshesky, a Registered Architect and business owner in Alexandria, VA and Lauren M. Olshesky, a Registered Nurse in CT and her husband John Sobanik.  Sophia was predeceased by her two brothers Joseph Szegda and wife Laura, Johnny Szegda and his wife Jeannette and sister Mary Szegda Thompson and her husband James.  She also leaves behind nephew Joesph Paul Szegda, her Godson, and his family, nephew Richard Szegda and his wife Violet and family, nephew Ron Szegda and family, niece Jane Szegda Luthi and her husband Charlie and family, niece Judy Szegda Ortiz and Tom and their families, and nephew Robert Szegda and wife Fran and family. Sophia was an avid reader and enjoyed the resources of the Cragin Library for many years.  Those who wish to make a donation in her memory can contribute to the Friends of Cragin Library , P.O. Box 68, Colchester, CT 06415 or to Connecticut College Arboretum, Caroline Black Garden. The family wants to extend special gratitude to Kelly Bradway for her thoughtful, compassionate care of Sunny during the last 10 years of her life.  And to caregivers Mandy Baiden, Mavis Asaomah & Joyce Awuah.  We are also very grateful to the staff at Saybrook at Haddam and Burke Health and the amazing staff at Capital Caring Hospice.  And to Nelofar and Faustina who kindly cared for Mom 7 days a week for the past 2 months in Virginia.  Services will be on Friday, June 24th.  Care of the arrangements has been entrusted to the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home of Colchester.   www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com