Olive L. Dudley

"Olive L. "Pickle" Dudley passed peacefully on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at Holyoke Medical Center with her family by her side. Born in West Springfield on April 15, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Emile and Bertha (LaForest) Bronner. She lived in West Springfield most of her life where she and her beloved husband of 49 years, Roy W. "Doc" Dudley raised their family. Following his death in 1995, she became a "snowbird' spending winters with her daughter in Lousiana. It was there that she was nicknamed "Pickle" as friends there claimed she was too much fun to be an Olive. She was an accomplished clothing designer and seamstress. She loved to create beautiful and unique fashions to wear to the Tea Dances with her husband. She also enjoyed playing bridge with the neighborhood club, reading, and crossword puzzels. She could frequently be seen riding her three wheel trike in the neighborhoods where she lived. She was involved with the sponsorship of a family in Grenada following Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and loved hearing news from her "adopted family". What "Pickle" loved most was her family and spending time around the table enjoying a great meal. She was the most happy on the annual Dudley family summer vacation to the beach. She will be sadly missed by her children, Roy A. Dudley and his wife Jenny Sharma of Westfield MA, the twins Richard W. Dudley of Holyoke, MA and Barbara J. " Angie" Dudley and her partner Peggy Mowen of Madisonville, LA, Donna M. Woodward and her husband Robert "Woody" of Brimfield, MA, Robyn E. Dudley and Dr. Jeffrey Soley of South Hadley, MA, her daughter in law Diane Dudley of Springfield, MA. She also leaves her five precious grandchildren Jason, Justin, Kyle-Kate, Melina, and Maya. She was predeceased by her siblings Emile Bronner, Lorraine Wescott, and Anita Tompson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Kenarie Levine and Children Grenada Hurricane Relief Fund c/o Country Bank PO Box 402 Brimfield, MA 01010 or Habitat for Humanity St Tammany-West, 1400 North Lane Mandeville LA 70471 There are no calling hours. Family and friends are invited to gather for a "Celebration of Life" reception on Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 1-4 pm at Piccolo's Restaurant 110-112 Elm Street Westfield, MA 01085. Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home has been entrusted with her arrangements. For online guest book, please visit www.beersandstory.com. "