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ASHLAND – Olga Marie (Pezza) Tomasz, 97 of Ashland passed away Sunday, February 19, 2023, surrounded by her family.
Born in Framingham, she was the daughter of the late Marino and Annunziata (Ruggieri) Pezza and wife of the late Joseph Anthony Tomasz who died in 1982.
Olga attended Framingham High School Class of 1943, Boston City Hospital School of Nursing graduating as a registered nurse in 1946 and continued her education at Boston University in 1948.
She began her lifelong career as a registered nurse at Boston City Hospital and later served her country during WWII in the Cadet Nurse Corps; working first at Quincy Military Hospital and later at Cushing Hospital in Framingham. She continued her career after the war at Framingham Union Hospital as a member of the staff that opened the Intensive Care Unit in October of 1962 and remained until her retirement in 1984.
She also worked with the medical team that developed the Boston Marathon Medical Support Guidelines.
She served her community as a substitute school nurse for Ashland Public Schools and helped to set up immunization clinics for the Town of Ashland and volunteered with many local medical organizations.
In 1976 she enrolled in the Harvard Nursing Health Study recognized in 2005 for 30 years of participation.
After her nursing career, she worked alongside her family at TJ’s Food and Spirits in Ashland until she was 95, She enjoyed being the hostess greeting customers and official pies and cakes maker. She was happiest working with young kids and family and chatting with her numerous customers and friends.
Mrs. Tomasz is survived by five children; Matthew Tomasz and his partner Roseann Rinaldo of Ashland, Joseph Tomasz and his partner Kathy Kerrigan of Hopkinton, John Tomasz and his wife Gail of Hopkinton, James Tomasz and his late wife Joyce of Ashland, and Nancy Wigglesworth and her husband Richard of Hopkinton, eleven grandchildren, Matthew Tomasz and his partner Casey Murphy of Detroit, MI, Joanna Mitchell and her husband Kevin of New Bedford, Benjamin Tomasz and his wife Lea of British Columbia, Jill Tomasz Dell’Orco, Anne Tomasz and her partner Joel Stewart of Ashland, Lynne Tomasz and her partner Ed O’Neil of Ashland, Anthony Tomasz and his wife Gabrielle of Long Valley, NJ, Elizabeth Tomasz and her partner Dan Lewis of Hopkinton, Christina Sellers and her husband Kevin of Hopkinton, Nicole Cassarino and her husband Nick of Hopkinton, and the late Jamie Tomasz, eleven great grandchildren, sister, Nancy Ryan and her husband William of Stony Point, NY, and brothers, the late James Pezza of Fairfield, CT, and the late Nazzareno Pezza of Framingham, MA.
Olga often said, “My greatest joy in life is my family, especially my grandchildren and great grandchildren. I was blessed with great parents, a wonderful loving husband, four special sons, and a special daughter, many friends and my faith.
She was an active member of St. Cecilia’s Church in Ashland; serving as eucharistic minister, the Ladies 21 Club, Ladies Sodality, and Ladies Guild. Finally listening to daily Mass every morning when she could no longer attend church. She was a charter member of the Ashland Lioness Club receiving a Life Membership Award in 2005.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday Feb. 23rd at 9:00am in St. Cecilia’s Church, 54 Esty St. Ashland, MA with burial to follow in Wildwood Cemetery in Ashland. Visiting hours will be held Wed. from 3:00-7:00 PM in the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Olga’s name to The Mass Lions Eye Research Inc., Macular Degeneration c/o Greater Ashland Lions Club, PO Box 41, Ashland, MA 01721, or St. Jude’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
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Chesmore Funeral Home 
McCarthy McKinney Lawler Funeral Home