Margaret L. (Olaski) Koehl

Margaret (Peggy) L. (Olaski) Koehl, retired ANA Certified Nurse Practitioner, long time resident of the North End Boston, died peacefully on 20 Sep 2019 at the age of 74.  She was surrounded by loved ones then as she has been during her courageous battle with Cancer over the past four years.

Peggy was born on 4 Nov 1944, the first daughter of John and Harriet (Langelier) Olaski of Hudson, Ma where she was raised. She leaves her sisters Judy Kerdok of Hudson and Donna Coulson of Redondo Beach, Ca, a daughter, Jamie (Demos) Brennan and husband Bob of Wilmington, Ma., grandsons Bobby   and Evan Brennan, nieces Kimberly and Christina Coulson and great nieces Karissa and Kylie, and great nephew, Dylan, of Ca as well as numerous cousins.  She is also survived by her best friend and travel companion of 45 yrs, Diane Tarr of Newton, Ma., a devoted housekeeper, Olivia Bautista, and her much loved and faithful service dog, Toby.

Peggy graduated from Hudson Catholic High School in 1962 and from Henry Haywood Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1965. She was a pioneer as she successfully completed one of the first Nurse Practitioner Programs in Ma (and likely one of the first programs in the USA) thus earning the professional credential, Advanced Practice RN, Certified. Her career spanned over four decades working in varied nursing positions. Her favorite jobs were always in Emergency and Urgent Care type settings.  She was hired to develop and manage the Employee Health and Emergency Clinic on The Deer Island Project for construction of Boston Sewerage Treatment Pipeline under Boston Harbor. She happily donned a hard hat and pink suede construction boots and took a ferry across the harbor to work daily. Peggy also worked for many years at Harvard Community Health Plan (now HVMA) in Post Office Square, Boston as the experienced Urgent Care NP.  Her early retirement related to Rheumatoid Arthritis saddened many patients and staff.

In off duty hours Peg enjoyed skiing, sailing, gourmet cooking, hosting lavish parties, old timey Country music and Irish Ballads.  She loved international travel and enjoyed sojourns to Athens and the Greek Isles, Kenya, Mexico, Caribbean Islands, Western Europe plus travel throughout the USA to attend multiple medical conferences. Additionally, she often extended kindnesses to people less fortunate then herself and was an avid supporter of animal rescue and other charities.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours on Thursday 26 Sep 2019 from 11:00AM-12:30 at Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home at 50 Central St., Hudson, Ma; followed by a funeral service in the funeral home at 12:30 pm.  Burial will immediately follow at nearby Forestvale Cemetary.

In lieu of floral arrangements, donations may be contributed in her memory to The Arthritis Foundation or to your choice of animal cruelty/rescue organization.