Olivia Catherine Zane

Olivia’s family and friends will remember her for so many things but maybe most of all for her empathy, kindness and hilarious irreverent humor – she had an amazing capacity to laugh at herself. She felt the pain of others and was always generous in her friendships. At Hunter Elementary School she won the kindness award three years in a row. During COVID she was the family member and friend who checked in with everyone. She was known for sending just the right gift all year round.

Olivia had a big warm smile. She loved to laugh, have fun and be silly.

Although she was raised Episcopal, Olivia embraced Judaism while attending Vassar College. She loved the camaraderie within the Vassar Jewish Union and was a leader in planning programs for major holidays, inviting guest speakers and arranging Friday night services and dinners. In Pittsburgh she became an active member of the Dor Hadash synagogue, which was a great source of strength to her.

So, too, were her friends, including those from Edenton Methodist Preschool, Hunter Elementary School, Ligon Middle School, Enloe High School, Vassar College and in Pittsburgh.

Olivia was remarkably resourceful. At 16, she found a French immersion camp in a small town in Canada all on her own. She arranged summer jobs as a camp counselor, a cashier at Whole Foods and a researcher at a Jewish history center at UCBerkeley. After graduating from Vassar in 2019, she decided to move to Pittsburgh, where her Grandma Kitty was raised, and found a job at Carnegie Mellon University. In the ‘Burgh she took long walks to admire the beautiful old homes, snap pictures of flowers and count her steps. She also became a fervent Pittsburgh Penguins fan, cursing the losses and cheering the wins. She was planning to attend graduate school for public health and had narrowed her list of 16 potential schools down to three.

Olivia was courageous; she addressed her struggles head-on. Like many people, she had a fear of public speaking: She joined Enloe’s Mock Trial Club to overcome it – and was so excited to win a best witness award during her senior year. Although emotional struggles brought on by a chemical imbalance were exhausting, she got up every day committed to doing what she could to get better. She knew that life was not fair but she persevered.

Olivia had many passions. She loved small press poetry, possessed a vast knowledge and love of independent films and music and shared her love of twee and 1960s girl group pop on a college radio program she hosted. She was a vegan who strongly believed in animal rights, loved shopping at the East End Food Coop for locally grown and sustainable products, but never scolded you if you ran out for a ham biscuit.

At Carnegie Mellon University she worked for the School of Computer Science where she was an administrative assistant andoutreach programs manager, supporting women in STEM. She was deeply proud of the school and its mission. Her colleagues said she went out of her way – working nights and weekends – to make sure the students had everything they needed to succeed.

Olivia’s mother and father love her with all their heart and soul, as do her sisters, grandparents, family members and friends. Her sister Annabel said there is nobody quite like her brilliant, funny and caring sister, which is true dear one, and we will miss you always and forever. Rest in Peace.

She is survived by her parents, Janine Steel Zane and J. Peder Zane, and sisters Annabel and Amelia Zane of Raleigh,grandparents Kitty and Lewis Steel of New York City,grandmother Suzanne Pederson of New York City, aunt Tabitha Zane (Bill Flannagan) of Lake Mary, Florida, uncle Brian and aunt Eileen Steel of New York, uncle Patrick and aunt Lee Steel of Washington, D.C. and cousins Andrew Frawley of Colorado Springs, Co, Dylan and Dennis Steel of New York, and Jack and Conor Steel of Washington, D.C.

She was predeceased by her grandfather, John Zane of Los Angeles.

There will be a private service.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC.