Olga Sisson

She was born on May 28th, 1927, to John and Mary Merena in Simpson PA and graduated from Fell High School in 1944. While working at the local sweet shop in Carbondale, the next town over, she met Paul Sisson and after a two-year courtship they married on September 13th, 1947. They lived in Scranton PA for a short while before moving to Washington D.C. so Paul could attend Georgetown Law School.

After several subsequent moves they settled on Feldon Steet in Wheaton, MD where they raised their 5 children. Olga began working for the federal government in 1975 at the Centers for Disease Control and after the project she was working on was completed, she transferred to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute where she retired after 20 years.

In retirement, Olga worked as a childcare provider so she could attend classes at Montgomery College. She was a long-time parishioner of the Shrine of St. Jude Catholic Church and was a member of the sisterhood Sodality Our Lady of the Wayside group and sang in the choir for over 20 years.

Olga was an avid Bingo player and played whenever and wherever she could. From the Progress Club in Rockville to the Knights of Columbus hall in Ocean City to the Damascus fire hall and Asbury Methodist Village. She was also a passionate Baltimore Orioles fan and went to as many games as she could. She often stayed up late watching her team play on TV right up until she passed.

Olga is predeceased by her parents, her sisters Pauline Mesley, Anne Jewell, Julia Vanisky, Mary Coleson, Helen Jones, Evelyn Swider, Delores Van Romondt, brothers Metro and Joseph Merena and her husband Paul of 28 years. She is survived by her children Paulette Santillo, James Sisson, Mary Sisson, Audrey Deputy, and Paul Sisson, Jr, grandchildren Matthew Santillo, Emily Santillo, Jamie Gadd, John Sisson, Havah Sisson, Mark Deputy, Jr., and Ryan Deputy, great grandchildren Levi Santillo, Gabriel Malik, Jacob Sisson, Elaina McDonald, and Harleigh Krutsch.

A visitation will be held at the Shrine of Saint Jude Catholic Church, located at 12701 Veirs Mill Rd, Rockville, MD 20853, on January 15, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00am, followed by the mass of Christian burial starting at 11:00am.

The burial will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20906, on Thursday, January 15, 2026 after the reception at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Olga’s name.