Cecelia Frances Olivo

Cecelia Frances Olivo, age 86, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Williamsburg, Virginia, on the morning of October 22, 2026. She was born in Far Rockaway, New York, to Charlotte Bonner Kendal and James Kendal. Cecelia attended Sacred Heart Academy in Long Island, New York (1956) and SUNY Plattsburgh (1960), where she earned her BSN and RN. On October 9, 1965, she married Efren Olivo, beginning a marriage that would span 60 years. Cecelia enjoyed a career as a Registered Nurse at Metropolitan Hospital before stepping away from full-time nursing to devote herself to raising their family. She and Efren made their home in West Nyack, New York before relocating to Ford's Colony in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2016.

Cecelia was a dedicated mother who showed her love through the countless ways she cared for her family. She spent endless hours driving children to and from swim practices and meets, baseball practices and games, and art classes, while always making sure there was a home-cooked meal waiting at the end of the day. Her love for her family was also reflected in the many traditions she created and the thoughtful ways she stayed connected to everyone. She was famous for the enormous assortment of delicious and elaborate Christmas cookies she baked each year, carefully packaging them for friends and neighbors and continuing to ship them to her children long after they had moved away. Cecelia had a love for gardening and took great pride in creating beautiful spaces. In New York, she maintained an extensive vegetable garden that provided fresh produce for the family throughout the summer. In Williamsburg, she enjoyed tending her flower gardens and taking in the beautiful colors of each season. She was also a talented seamstress, creating everything from clothing and Halloween costumes to Patricia's wedding dress. Her creativity extended throughout her home, which she loved decorating for every season and holiday. Cecelia had a special way of keeping up with the lives of those she loved. As family members recently discovered while going through her belongings, she had saved newspaper clippings, articles, photographs, and other reminders of the accomplishments and milestones of her children and grandchildren. Her photo albums and carefully saved keepsakes revealed just how closely she followed everyone's lives and how proud she was of the people they had become. She may not always have expressed those feelings in words, but her actions made her love and interest in her family unmistakable. Cecelia was a resilient and strong woman who faced life's challenges with determination, including surviving multiple battles with cancer. Her strength and independence were defining parts of who she was and her family admired her for both. Although her passing was unexpected, she leaves behind a family who will forever cherish her love, the traditions she created, and the countless ways she made their lives special.

Cecelia is survived by her children, Patricia (Robert) Howes, David (Linda) Olivo, Susan (Tom) McCabe, and Christopher (Denille) Olivo; her grandchildren, Jonathan (Gracie), Max, Mathew (Marissa), Dante (Ariana), Justin, Kendal (Ryan), Jackson, Taylor, Addison, Tucker, and Quinn; her great-granddaughter, Sutton; and her sister, Carolyn (Keith), along with nieces Lisa, Tara, and Jodi. She was predeceased by her husband Efren Olivo, and her parents, Charlotte and James Kendal.

A celebration of Cecelia's life will be held at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg, Virginia, on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. A reception will follow at her home, 100 Castel Pines. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/

The service will also be available via livestream at: https://www.facebook.com/125632257490458