Pamela Pilling Olson

Pamela Pilling Olson, of Gwynedd, PA, devoted grandmother to Devin and Ross Tyson, and Ronan and Maeve Viola, died Feb. 12, this year. She was 80. At the end, she was surrounded by her two children and two sisters.

Born in Chestnut Hill, the daughter of John F. Pilling, Mary Louise Kerwin Pilling and later the stepdaughter of Constance Earle Pilling. Summers were spent in Bay Head and Mantoloking, NJ in loud gatherings of many aunts, uncles and close family. Pam graduated from Springside School with her sister-cousin and life-long soul-mate Anna Hults Harmar.

After Springside, she attended Cazenovia College in NY before working at the 1964 World’s Fair in NY. At the fair, she met her husband, J Gillmur Tyson III. Joseph G. Tyson IV and Allison F. Viola were born soon after. It was her second husband, Charles A. Olson, who was the great love of her life. Together, they raised kids, step-kids Heidi Olson, Chip Olson and Jennifer Olson Thorn, sailed, traveled, played tennis and socialized at the Mantoloking Yacht Club and with the First City Troop of Philadelphia.

Pam was an accomplished seamstress, she loved to garden, read, entertain, play cards and backgammon, cook and decorate. As her family grew, she took great joy and pride in her grandchildren who called her Grammy Pammy. She visited them whenever possible and vacationed with them in Mantoloking and Cape May, NJ. In later years, Pam studied watercolor and painting, surprising herself by excelling in the form. Pam moved to Gwynedd Estates where she made many new friends, getting together with neighbors over coffee, cards, companionship and art. Throughout Pam’s life, she never lived more than 20 miles from where she was born, always maintaining close connection to family and friends.

Pam had a sarcastic wit, sharp tongue and huge heart. She was highly social and would talk to anyone and everyone. She will be sadly missed by many, especially her grandkids. She is survived by her daughter: Allison F. Viola, her son: Joseph G. Tyson, her brothers: John F. Pilling and J. Ross Pilling, her sisters: Isabel E. Pilling and Margaret Pilling Rux and her stepmother: Constance E. Pilling.

A surprise party celebrating her life will be held at Gwynedd Estates, 301 Norristown Rd, Ambler, PA Friday, Feb 20 at 1 PM. A small family gathering will be held graveside at St Martin-in-the Fields when the ground thaws.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to Save Barnegat Bay. https://savebarnegatbay.org/