Olga Stanley

Olga Mary Stanley, 93, of Duluth passed away Sunday, May 13, 2012, in the house where she lived for 70 years, with several family members present. Olga was born in Duluth to Fred and Teresa (Popovich) Tasky and was raised in Gary New Duluth. She had an older brother and five younger sisters. Olga attended Stowe School and graduated as valedictorian of the Morgan Park High School Class of 1935. In 1940 she was married to Frank Stanley, leaving her job at Northwestern Bell Telephone to raise a family of two sons and two daughters. She was active in St. Anthonys and Cathedral Highs PTAs, returning to NWB where she retired as a supervisor in 1979. She trained many of Duluths directory assistance operators. Olga enjoyed travel, touring Europe and Hawaii numerous times and seeing America via automobile and Greyhound, especially fond of the Mystery Tours. She formerly belonged to St. Elizabeth and St. Anthony parishes, and currently is a member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church. For over 30 years she was active in the Duluth Telephone Pioneers as a past president, a caller for meetings and she sewed hundreds of wheelchair pockets and Hug-a-Bears. She belonged to AARP, the Communication Workers of America, the Plus 55 Club, Golden Arrow Travel Club, the Hiking Club, Briar Lake Association, and was a Salvation Army Bell Ringer. Notably, she cared for her husband at home for 11 years after he suffered a stroke. Olga was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 51 years, Frank; brother Milo Tasky; sisters Betty Blazevic, Helen Koster and Marion Ellefsen; and grandson Ross Meyer. Surviving family includes children Donald (Kathy) of Duluth, Margery Stanley-Meyer of Duluth, Charles (Barbara) of Lake EImo, Minn., and Virginia (Jody Villa) Stanley of Albuquerque, New Mexico; grandchildren Susan Meyer (Kevin Peterson) of Duluth, Steven (Candace) Stanley of Houston, Texas, Scott (Holly) Meyer of Piano, Texas, Christopher Stanley (Kelli Doll) of Texan Bay, Guatemala and Adrienne Villa-Stanley of San Francisco, Calif.; sisters Ursula Despot of Duluth, Marjorie (Roland) Rooney of North Branch, Minn.; step grandchildren Stephen (Patricia) Elsmore of Esko and Kelly (Jeffrey) Jaglo of Maple Grove, Minn.; two great grandchildren and six step great grandchildren. MEMORIAL SERVICE: 11 a.m. on Monday, May 21, 2012 in Dougherty Funeral Home Chapel. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the service in the chapel. Inurnment service to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Salvation Army or a local hospice organization. Arrangements are by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth. 727-3555