Etna B. Oles

Etna Oles took a peaceful journey home for Christmas on Dec. 23, 2008. At the age of 96, she left this world to join her beloved son, Dale Oles; her parents, Martha and Samuel Borger; the father of her children, Louis Oles; brothers, Garrison and Amos Borger; sister, Bertha Kresge; niece, Catherine Barcomb; great-grandson, Michael Graves; sisters-in-law, Beryl Borger and Ann Oles; brothers-in-law, Paul Kresge, Raymond Oles, Edward Oles and Bernard Williams; and many devoted friends. She was born Mary Etna Adelia Borger, weighing less than 4 pounds, on Oct. 31, 1912. Given a slim chance of surviving the bitter cold winters in Swiftwater, Pa., her mother wrapped her in cotton and placed her in a shoebox behind the wood burning stove in the kitchen. As a child, she roamed the countryside gathering wildflowers and strawberries. She attended a one-room school until the age of 12, when her family moved to Brookaven, N.Y. She finished public school in the eighth grade and went on to secretarial school. She worked as a legal secretary for George Furman and Carl Hoffman, typing up the original deed for Leja Beach, now known as Davis Park, on Fire Island. She retired in 1957. Etna loved nothing more than to be with family and friends, except her Savior, whom she served for her entire life. She was nurturing to anyone or anything that came to her door. Etna's kitchen was always open and the coffee was always on. She could make something out of nothing when times were hard, and had an amazing knack for creating homemade gifts and crafts. She spent hours walking the beach looking for shells or picking beach plums to make jelly. Her fingers glided over the keyboard of the piano and organ with such grace as she sang sweet songs to her children and grandchildren. She lived on Avery Avenue in Patchogue, N.Y., for 40 years, building a home out of an old farm house. She moved to Bellhaven Healthcare Facility on Feb. 16, 1996, and left New York state in 1997 for Maryville to be near her daughter. When she no longer could take care of those she loved, she adopted a teddy bear, whom she lovingly named after her great-grandson. She changed Adam's clothes, took him in the car for rides through the Smoky Mountains, but only if he sat in the backseat with his seatbelt on. Many times, she even fed him some of her dinner. She was tender and protective of her Adam, just as she always was with her family and friends. Truly, if an angel ever walked on this earth, it was Etna. Left to cherish her memory and spread her wisdom is her daughter and best friend, Elaine Graves and husband Robert of Maryville; her daughter-in-law, Barbara Oles of Guilford, Vt.; grandsons, Matthew Graves of Alcoa, Wayne Graves and wife Tina of Knoxville; Dan Oles of Guilford, Vt.; granddaughter, Noreen Lake and husband Jeff of Westminster, N.H.; great-grandsons, Adam and Joel Graves, Jacob Oles, Corey and Cody Graves; great-granddaughters, Amanda Oles and Crystal Graves; sisters-in-law, Mary Oles and Dorothy Williams; nieces, Patricia Houghton and husband George, Diane Thomas, Linda Flor and husband Henry, Susan Oles; nephews, Gary Borger and wife Cynthia, Skip Williams and Greg Williams; numerous great-nieces and nephews; her extended families from Meadow United Methodist Church, Greenback, and Asbury Place, Maryville. Etna will return to Swiftwater, Pa., to eternal rest beside her dear parents. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Jan. 11, 2009, at 3 p.m., arrangements by Smith's in Maryville. Donations in her precious memory may be mailed to Meadow United Methodist Church, c/o Rowena Tuck, 4000 Brook Rd., Greenback, TN 37742, or Alzheimer's Association, 2200 Southerland Ave., Suite H102, Knoxville, TN 37919. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Etna B. Oles please visit our Sympathy Store.