Georgette Estelle Olson

1923 - 2009

Georgette was born as a French Citizen in Ain Abessa, the Department of Constantine, Algeria, North Africa to her parents Luis Antione Lucciani and Olga Antoinette Lucciani (nee Surgand) on a snowy day on the 3rd of January in the wilderness of Algeria where her father was working as an engineer for the government. She was educated by her mother, Olga, at home and led a peaceful childhood in rural life. In her teens she was a competitive sportswomen and excelled at boat and scull rowing. After WWII she worked as a typist for the US Navy in Morocco where she met and married, Robert William Olson, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps (US Air Force) in February 1948. She moved with Bob to the USA where she proudly became a US Citizen. Taking great joy in the “American Way of Life”, learning it's customs and began her life-long passion for cooking and entertaining as she felt this was the best way to make friends and say ‘thank you' to all the help she received in settling into her new country and home. As a result of Bob's military career they moved several times. She gave birth to two daughters, both children were born in Vallejo, California: Coral Sigrid in 1951 Martine Annette in 1953. In 1957 Bob was assigned to Castle Air Force Base for 12 years where the children were educated at St. Anthony's in Atwater and where life-long friendships were made. In 1969 Bob was posted to Ramstein, Germany and on his retirement, Bob and Georgette remained in Europe for 13 years and lived in Seville, Spain; Crete, Greece and Ankara, Turkey. They returned to Merced as their permanent home in 1985 and resumed many old friendships which gave them great happiness.
Georgette was an exceptional cook. So much so that a judge was once over heard at a cocktail party telling another Mercedian, that “If Georgette Olson should ever invite you over for dinner, cancel whatever engagement you have, now matter how important it is, and go!” Georgette was a passionate golfer and one of her great loves in retirement were the close and dear friendships that she made at the Merced Country Club. These friendships became a central part of her life which only her faith as a Catholic could displace. She worshiped at St. Patrick's in Merced and was a devout Christian.
She is survived by her daughter, Coral Olson and her immediate family in France: Madame Michelle Lucciani, Monsieur Jean and Madame Edwige Seguineau, Madame Claude Baconnier, Mademoiselle Kathleen and Monsieur Edouard Seguineau, and Monsieur Bruno and Madame Anne-France Boutet. Georgette is proceeded in death by her daughter Martine Olson and her husband, Robert (Bob) Olson.
Friends and family are invited to a Recitation of the Holy Rosary Thursday April 30, 2009, at 7:00 P.M., at the Wilson Family Funeral Chapel of Merced, 525 West 20th Street, Merced. A Funeral Mass of Catholic burial will be held on Friday, May 1, 2009 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 11:00 A.M. in Merced.