Cindy Olson

All who knew Cindy Olson would agree that she certainly put the sparkle into life. She was a woman who was truly beautiful on the inside and out with just the right amount of spunk mixed in. Cindy was content in whatever life brought and could find the silver lining along any black cloud. The love she had for her family was unmatched, and there was nowhere she loved being more than surrounded by her many loved ones. Cindy viewed being a mother as both her highest calling and her greatest blessing, and she took great care in raising boys who have grown into young men of integrity and strong principle. Taken from her loved ones much too soon, Cindy will be dearly missed and warmly remembered.

The sixties were an unprecedented time in American history with struggles in civil rights and women’s rights in addition to the tragic death of President John F. Kennedy. We were entertained by the music of Elvis and the Beach Boys while televisions were becoming part of living rooms across the nation like never before. Nestled within this vibrant time was the year 1962 that brought great joy to one loving family from Mt. Clemens, Michigan, as they welcomed a healthy baby girl into their hearts and home on July 8th. Cynthia Anne was the third of four children born to her parents, William and Betty Goodfallow, and she spent her earliest years in the family home in Clinton Township alongside her older siblings, Nancy and Wayne, and her younger brother, Doug. Cindy’s father worked as a carpenter while her mother was a busy homemaker.

When Cindy was 12 years old she and her younger brother moved with their parents to the cottage on Lake Leelanau, which is where Cindy truly loved to be. She rode her bike all over up there as fast as it would take her, chasing as much daylight as she could find every day. Cindy also played on an old boat out in front of the cottage, often with her girlfriends, and she also fished, chased turtles, or basked in the sun. In 1978 her family settled in Leland where she attended local schools, graduating from Leland High School in 1980.

Life was forever changed for Cindy when she met the young man who stole her heart while working at the Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor. He was a cook named Stan Olson, and it took Cindy a little bit to figure out that he was actually trying to woo her by bumping into her in the pantry while she was working. For the rest of her life she continued to laugh at the way he charmed the ladies! After dating for a time, Cindy and Stan were married on October 26, 1987, in Port Huron.

Cindy was filled with unspeakable joy when she and Stan were blessed with two sons, Jeremy William and Jakob Edward. Her children were her greatest joy, and she offered them both her unconditional love and unending pride and support. Cindy worked tirelessly to make a home that was a haven for them and to provide them with a good life. She was a firm believer in working hard and that there was nothing one couldn’t accomplish with hard work and perseverance. She demonstrated her own strength and strong will with Jeremy who was born with a short tendon in his neck which needed to be stretched in order to allow for a full range of motion. Cindy endured his cries and screams in order to do this for him - no easy feat to be sure. Then her second son Jakob was born three months prematurely and had to be in an incubator for his first month of life. As her boys grew she was their biggest supporter in all their school and athletic events.

For several years Cindy was a skilled chef at several Northern Michigan resorts and restaurants. She worked her way up in the food industry beginning in the dish room and ending as a chef, having followed all the steps in between. Cindy was known for her award winning chili, “Cindy’s Red.” She was also a delivery truck driver and receiving clerk for Wolohan Lumber. It was a proud moment for Cindy when she earned her CDL, finally able to drive a truck for Wolohans. She fought for her position and earned every minute of it in addition to the respect of her customers, contractors, and coworkers alike. Known for her excellent service and attention to detail no one ever dared push the red head too far, yet they loved to see that Cindy was the one who showed up with their delivery. She later managed a Subway restaurant and was a Walgreens photo specialist. No matter where her working days took her, Cindy loved her customers and coworkers.

There were so many things that made Cindy extraordinary. She was a creature of light and a sea child who loved spending a day at the beach, camping, or taking in a concert. The backdrop of her life was always Lake Michigan, especially Good Harbor Beach where she spent the past 45 years celebrating the Fourth of July. There were also frequent camping trips with her family to D.H. Day Campground in Glen Arbor. In fact, everything Cindy did was best when it was done with her family as she was truly happiest when surrounded by her entire extended family. The holidays were something she always looked forward to, and she was also a regular presence in the lives of her nieces and nephews as she was as proud of them as she was of her own boys. Cindy loved her black Labrador, Baliey Rae, that she taught how to bark “I Love You.”

Cindy’s life was enriched in so many ways. She not only loved lakeshore living in the summer, but she also loved the snow of the winter months in Michigan when she skied the slopes of Sugarloaf Mountain. She was a gifted sketch artist who recently grew interested in calligraphy, and with a love for music she seized every opportunity to get in a live concert.

A gifted artist, dedicated worker, and the rock of her family, Cindy Olson was a blessing in the lives of those too numerous to count. She loved so many things about the life she was given, but there was nothing of greater importance to her than the family she treasured more than life itself. Cindy was a shining light in the world around her. She will be deeply missed while her memory is forever cherished.

Cynthia Anne Olson died on Monday, October 22nd, 2012. Cindy’s family includes by her husband, Stanley Olson; two sons, Jeremy and Jakob; parents, William and Betty Goodfallow; siblings, Nancy Perzanowski, Wayne Goodfallow, and Doug Goodfallow; nieces and nephews, Rebecca, Tom, Mike, Laura, David, Elizabeth, Brad, Jennifer, Jessica, Jacqui, Tori and Connor; and great nieces and nephews, Ben, Natalie, Kate, Kara, Evey, Hannah, Nolan and Trevor. A gathering and celebration of her life will take place on Friday, October 26th from 4-7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home in Traverse City, MI. In memory of Cindy and in support of her beloved family, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stanley Olson in care of Life Story Funeral Home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory with her family.

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