Charlotte Osvar

Born on October 30, 1921, at Harley Hospital in Boston, MA, she was the daughter of Benjamin Berger and Celia Shapiro. She liked to tell everyone her birthday was on Halloween.

A 1939 graduate of Winthrop High School, Charlotte went on to earn a BA in business and finance from the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance.

Charlotte is predeceased by her husband of 63 years Hyman J. Osvar. She is survived by two daughters, Diane Tavist of Charlestown, MA and Judith (Judy) Osvar of Centerville, MA. Patrons of the Barnstable Tavern, where Judy worked, will remember Judy calling Charlotte every night to tell her she loved her to the moon and back, and Charlotte’s constant reply, “I love you more.”

Charlotte was hard worker and an avid volunteer. She worked as an administrative assistant at the East Boston Social Center, where she was awarded a certificate for meritus service, and as a bookkeeper for several businesses including Standard Sheet Metal. She was a life member of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Inc, and she received the Chai membership award from the B'nai B'rith Women saluting her for 18 years of membership. She and her husband were presidents of the Senior Friendship Club, and involved in several projects for nonprofits. A lecturer of the Diet Workshop, Charlotte was also a recipient of the Learned Research Award from Brandeis University.

She loved theatre and Broadway, and handcrafts such as knitting and needlepoint. She loved playing scrabble, Canasta, Bridge and Mahjong with her friends, she loved line dancing and ballroom dancing with her husband.

Charlotte and Hyman lived in Winthrop, MA for many years raising their two daughters. Later they moved to Vinnin Square in Swampscott, MA. They spent their later years at Heatherwood at Kingsway on Cape Cod to be near their daughter Judy.

A lover of Jewish and Chinese food, Charlotte loved Winthrop and always said she wanted to go back to visit her friends. She always will be remembered for her humor. Whenever she was asked what had happened to the golden years, she would reply they had tarnished.

Hers was a life well lived. In the words of her dear friend Elaine:

Stationary is what it’s called

a bike with wheels going round and round,

that never really touched the ground.

But on that bike going no place

fate’s Capricious hand showed its grace:

your flash smile flooded my arid heart,

a special friendship about to start.

A funeral service is being held for friends and family on Monday April 3, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Puritan Mount Sinai Cemetery, 776 Baker Street in West Roxbury, MA.