Olive Joan Wasilewski Keith

"She hath done what she could." Mark 14:8
Olive Joan Wasilewski Keith, 91, died peacefully on her birthday, November 14, 2023.
Born in Newark, NJ, Olive was the second child of the late Guy and Joyce Bateman. Olive was predeceased by her sister, Joyce V Bateman, her brother, James O Bateman, and her brother, Kenneth Toussaint.
The Great Depression marked her childhood and Olive learned early the effects of poverty in a life that no child should suffer. In her teenage years, she was met with further tragedy when she had to care for her mother who suffered and died from incurable cancer.. However, those early experiences served to build a character in her that was creative, entrepreneurial, and courageous, as well as a deep love and devotion to her Creator and his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. At 15, she committed her heart to the Lord and gave him all that she had which at that time was a new pair of shoes. At 18, Olive met her husband, Chester Wasilewski, while attending a church meeting and they were married by elopement in the State of Maryland, a popular occurrence in the post-war era. Olive and Chester, who was fifteen years her senior and in poor health, were blessed with four children before Olive turned the age of 30, a challenge for any family.
While raising her children, Olive spent her time developing typing skills, baking skills, sewing skills, and professional cake-decorating skills and often utilizing them to bring a little extra cash into the family. Her wedding cakes were extraordinary. complete with fountains, flowers and multiple tiers! Often she spent time studying the scriptures, going to church meetings, conducting Sunday school classes for the children and entertaining many of her relatives and Christian friends. Throughout her life Olive developed the skill of a poet and would often find outlet in writing poetry expressing her emotions and observations. Olive was ever watchful for those in need and was generous in both her time and provisions. She was a shining example of hospitality. When the children were grown, Olive tried her hand in various businesses some of which were florist, typesetter, and secretary, but her primary love was for the Lord in serving her natural and spiritual family.
By God's grace, Chester and Olive enjoyed 47 years of marriage before his passing with many close calls in between as Chester struggled with poor health all of his life. Joyfully, Olive was able to find new love a year later when she met Bertram Keith at a church convention. It was indeed "Love at first sight" and they were married within a few months. They had 23 happy years together before her passing and spent the early part of their marriage in volunteering at the Dawn Publishing factory in Rutherford, NJ.
Olive was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother who had a zest for life and smile on her face and in her heart.
She is survived by her loving husband, Bertram Keith, her devoted children, Christine Makowski and her husband, Frank, Diane Lucas and her husband, Michael, Gail Fraser and her husband, Jim, and David Wasilewski and his wife, Debbie, her grandchildren, Jason Makowski, Jarod Makowski, and Heather Korzin and her husband, Alan, and her great grandchildren, Malaya Makowski, Shaylee Makowski and George Korzin. Further, she is survived by her step-children, Kathleen Johnson and her husband, David, Gary Keith and his wife, Hattie, and James Keith and his wife, Tamara, and their families.
Funeral visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, November 18, 2023 with a service at 11:00 am at the Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Ave, Fanwood, NJ. Interment will immediately follow at Hollywood Cemetery, 1500 & 1621 Stuyvesant Ave, Union, NJ.
Olive LOVED HEARTS so if you would like to recognize that by wearing a heart, please do so, otherwise just bring the one inside of you!
"She hath done what she could." Mark 14:8
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