Olga C. Thompson, 88, Operated Menemsha Inn

Olga C. Thompson, 88, died at Thornton Oaks in Brunswick, Me., on Jan. 17.

She was born in Holyoke on July 23, 1918, the youngest of three children and the daughter of Anna and Elias Czorny.

When the children were young, the family moved to Providence, R.I.

Olga graduated from teacher's college and began the certification process. In the spring of 1945, she answered an ad in a local paper for a summer job on Martha's Vineyard. Answering that ad led to meeting her future husband, Dewolf Thompson. They worked together that summer and decided that they made a good team. Olga swore that she would never tell her children that their parents met in July and married in October!

For the next 22 years, Olga and Dewolf worked together running the Menemsha Inn on Martha's Vineyard. They had two sons: Ken, born in 1949, and Doug, born in 1954. Between raising a family, running a growing business and socializing with friends, they led a full and busy life.

In December of 1967, Dewolf died of cancer. Olga continued to run the inn with the help of family and friends until her retirement in 1984.

Once retired, Olga was able to pursue her passion for travel, experiencing new places, meeting new people and of course, making new friends.

In 1998, Olga moved to Rockport, Me., to be closer to her son Doug and his family. In 2000, she moved to a retirement community, Thornton Oaks in Brunswick, Me.

Olga especially enjoyed continuing her travels with her longtime companion and sweetheart, Jim Stone, of Wellington, New Zealand. She relished being able to spend our winter in New Zealand, allowing her to have two summers in one year and thus avoiding winter altogether.

Olga was a doting "Nana" who never tired of talking to her three grandsons about their interests and goals. She had an insatiable curiosity which made her open to new ideas and technology.

Olga was a vibrant and outgoing individual who loved people. She made many friends in Brunswick, some who helped her to remain independent in her apartment. Others worked with her to improve the physical quality of her life. She truly loved these special caregivers and was grateful for the time and energy they shared with her.

She was fond of her newfound home state of Maine, and her life and friends at Thornton Oaks, but her heart was always on the Vineyard where she had spent so many full and satisfying years with her family, friends and work.

Her most recent adventure involved the Vineyard. It was a reunion of family and friends held this past June in Edgartown. She spent many months happily anticipating and planning for this get-together. Since the event, she has savored the many photos, mementos, memories and renewed acquaintances this special occasion afforded her.

Olga was a "glass-half-full" kind of a person who lived each day to the fullest. Her spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her sister, Helena Czorny, of Camden, Me.; her brother, Daniel Black, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; her son Ken Thompson and his wife Nancy Callahan of Sweet, Ida.; her son Doug Thompson and his wife Becky Thompson of Lincolnville, Me.; and their three sons: Simon, Jack and Patrick.

A graveside service will be held at Abel's Hill Cemetery in Chilmark in June. A service will be held at Thornton Oaks , Brunswick, Me., in the near future.