Obituary of Olive Frances Walters

Olive Frances Blyde Walters, affectionately known as "Honey," of Manchester, New Jersey, departed this life on October 9, 2024, at the age of 102, due to natural causes.
 

Born on March 23, 1922, in St. John’s, Newfoundland, when it was still a dominion of the British Empire, Olive left Newfoundland after World War II with her husband, United States serviceman George Walters.

This move occurred before Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation, so Olive never lived in Canada and spent her entire time in Newfoundland as a British subject.
 

Olive later resided in Orange, New Jersey, with her husband and their two daughters, Frances and Nancy, while she acquired her full United States citizenship. She worked for the Great American Insurance Company until her retirement in the early 1980s.

After becoming widowed in 1989, Olive moved from Orange to West Orange, New Jersey, in 1993.

There, she flourished for 26 years as a cornerstone of the senior community, often seen aiding individuals decades younger with their daily needs and activities.

She was also a member of the inaugural class of "Cyber Seniors," a computer education initiative for seniors in Essex County, New Jersey.

In 2019, Olive moved to Manchester, New Jersey, to reside with her daughter Frances until her passing.

Throughout her life, she embodied grace and dignity, exemplifying the qualities of what is now known as The Greatest Generation.

For 75 years, Olive was an active parishioner at St. John’s Church in Orange, New Jersey, a daily reader of the Newark Star-Ledger, and a devoted fan of the New York Yankees.

She enjoyed traveling to various parts of the world but held a special fondness for her countless trips to Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, over many decades.

From the very beginning, Olive was the life of the party, continuing to sing, dance, and laugh until her final days.

Olive is predeceased by her parents, Phillip and Elsie Baggs Blyde; her other mother, Maggie Oleary Blyde; sisters Mary Murphy, Catherine Oleary, Beatrice-Elizabeth Drew, Joan Wolner, Ida Marshall, and June Ventolo; her husband, George Walters; grandson William Hartman; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Left to mourn are her brothers Philip (Joan) and Edward (Beverley) Blyde.; daughters Frances DePalma and Nancy Winker; grandson Joseph DePalma (Caitlyn); granddaughter Chena Winker; four great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; niece Linda Sullivan (Harold); and many other nieces, nephews, and beloved friends.

Wake services will be held on Sunday, October 13, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Dangler Funeral Home, located at 340 Main St, West Orange, NJ 07052.

The Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, October 14, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Church, 94 Ridge St, City of Orange, NJ 07050. Burial will follow immediately across the street at St. John's Cemetery.