Jennifer R. Olsson

Jennifer (Jenny) Reay Olsson died on March 4, 2022 in Canandaigua NY. She was 54. 

She is survived by her mother Marjory (Midge) Marshall, siblings Andrew (Andy) Marshall and Shannon Marshall, her children Robert Olsson, Cassandra (Cassie) Olsson, and Zachary Olsson, her separated husband John Olsson and her partner Carl Suhr IV.

Jennifer was born on December 11th 1967 in Buffalo NY and adopted by Midge and Keith Marshall. She was their first child and eventually became the older sister of Andy and Shannon Marshall. She and her family had a love for the outdoors and spent whole summers together in their family cabin on Angle lake in Ontario Canada. Jennifer had an affinity for the water; becoming an exceptional canoeist and avid swimmer.

She went on to join the swim teams for her high school and, later on, her college. Jenny loved to compete, and despite her short stature she performed well. She played soccer, performed in many musicals, and trained in fencing; even going on to compete in junior olympic competitions.

She graduated from Our Lady of Mercy high school in the class of 1986 and went on to attend Nazareth College, achieving her Bachelor’s of Science in English in 1991. She had set out intending to go on to join the Navy, having participated in ROTC through the University of Rochester alongside her courses at Nazareth, though love and family drew her attention away and became her sole focus. 

She met her future husband, John Olsson while in college and had their first child, Robert Olsson in the years following. The couple soon moved to Palmyra NY to settle in the house they bought together. Cassandra and Zachary Olsson soon followed, filling the house and making it home.

Jennifer concentrated on her family and friends, cultivating these relationships and acting as a guide and carer to many. She coached soccer, led her daughter’s girl scout troop, and volunteered at the Palmyra-Macedon middle school. Additionally, Jenny wanted to instill in her children the same affinity for the outdoors her childhood gave her, so the family spent many weekends and vacations traveling the state hiking and camping out. They even spent a few weeks every summer at the same family cabin in Ontario that Jenny had; passing precious memories on.

She saw her children through adulthood and went on to take other interests; working as a cashier, beginning dance lessons and performances, meeting new people and finding new love. She found Carl Suhr IV over these years and the couple soon moved in to begin a life together, one cut short but which will be cherished.

She had an exceptional green thumb, was an animal lover and admirer of theater, literature and art. She had an open heart and welcomed many to have a place in it. She will be remembered fondly.

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