Dorothy R. Olsen

Troy, New Hampshire

Dorothy R. Olsen, 91, of Troy died Sunday, March 1, 2009 at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene after a brief illness.

Mrs. Olsen was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 3, 1917, the youngest daughter of Thorvald and Marie (Gundsten) Andersen. She was a 1935 graduate of Bay Ridge High School in Brooklyn. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1939 and began her teaching career in the New York Cityschoolsystem, teaching elementary school for many years before briefly becoming the acting principal of her school.

Mrs. Olsen married Thomas Reinertsen in 1941. While living in Brooklyn, NY, Mrs. Olsen was an active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooklyn and had sung in the Gospel Choir and had also played the piano and cello.

After Mr. Reinertsen died in 1960, Mrs. Olsen returned to school and graduated from Wagner College in Staten Island, New York after achieving her Masters Degree in Education.

Through the years, Mrs. Olsen and her children would often travel to Troy, New Hampshire and stay at the Inn at East Hill Farm. After marrying Iver Olsen in 1971, together theymoved to Troyin 1972 and made it their home. She became active in the First Church in Jaffrey Center and had sung in the choir there also.

Mrs. Olsen was a very gifted artist and enjoyed knitting and sewing and had lovingly made many gifts for all of her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Iver Olsen of Troy, New Hampshire, and her three sons, Donald Reinertsen of Saint James, New York, Gordon Reinertsen of Atlanta, Georgia and Donald Olsen of Catawissa, Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews cousins and close friends.

Flowers will be accepted; however the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the First Church of Jaffrey, UCC, 14 Laban Ainsworth Way, Jaffrey NH 03452.

Burial will take place in the spring at Mountain View Cemetery in Troy.

Friends and family are invited to calling hours on Wednesday March 4, 2009, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Cournoyer Funeral Home Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202) in Jaffrey.

Funeral services will be held Thursday March 5, 2009 at 1:00 PM at the First Church in Jaffrey, UCC, 14 Laban Ainsworth Way in Jaffrey Center. Rev. Chandler W. "Tuck" Gilbert will officiate.