Barbara N. Olmsted

Barbara N. Olmsted
1921 – 2019


Springfield – Barbara (Norton) Olmsted, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother died on March 25, 2019 at the age of 97. Born Barbara Stearns Norton on April 28, 1921 in Worcester, MA, she was the daughter of Ernest Wesley Norton and Margaret Frances (Mee) Norton. Barbara was a resident of Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing for nearly 20 yrs., living previously in East Longmeadow and Worcester, MA. She graduated from South High School, Worcester, completed a business program and worked at Haywood Boot and Shoe as a stenographer and bookkeeper before and during WWII. She later worked as an account clerk at Longmeadow Schools. She married Bernie Albert Olmsted on September 16, 1942. He passed away on August 24, 2006. Her sister Jane Baharian also predeceased her. She leaves her 2 daughters, Cynthia Olmsted Mayher and her husband Rev. Dr. Philip J. Mayher “Joe”, of Wilbraham, and Nola Olmsted Reis and her husband Robert L. Reis, of Glenmont, NY; 4 grandchildren, Aaron Olmsted Mayher of Denver, CO., Jessamyn Stearns Martin (Andrew) of Framingham, Lauren Gibson (Daniel) of Halfmoon, NY., and Benton Reis of Glenmont, NY and Seoul, South Korea. She delighted in one great-grandchild, Jasper Stearns Martin of Framingham. Barbara was a long-time member of the First Congregational Church of East Longmeadow. She also served as the Chair of the Hospitality Committee, welcoming new members to Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, for many years. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 4th at 11AM in the First Congregational Church, 7 Somers Rd., East Longmeadow, MA. Donations in Barbara’s memory may be made to the First Congregational Church at the above address or to Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, Residence Association, 807 Wilbraham Rd., Springfield, MA 01109. For More information or to leave a condolence for the family please visit: www.forastiere.com.