Nancy Haldeman Olson

Nancy Elizabeth Haldeman Ramsey Olson passed away on January 18, 2025, at Chester County Hospital. She was the daughter of the late John Henry Haldeman and the late Lillian Blakeley Richardson Zierach. 

Nancy was a graduate of Kennett High School class of 1953. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in nursing in 1957. In 1962 she moved back to Kennett Square. During the 1960’s, Nancy worked at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She worked in the blood bank and was instrumental in developing a program of fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate for the treatment of hemophilia. She created the first dedicated IV team at CHOP and was so skilled that she was among those responsible for starting IV’s for preemies. Nancy also taught the parents of hemophilia patients how to do home infusion, freeing them of the burden of hospital visits every time therapy was needed. When she left CHOP for the blood bank at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, she was part of the team that developed white cell pheresis to capture white cells for treatment of leukemia. 

In the 1970’s, Nancy left nursing and the daily commutes to Philadelphia to be closer to home and to have more time with her two teenage boys. She joined the Haldeman family wholesale business, J.G. Haldeman & Bro., in Chadds Ford. In addition to her HR and accounting duties, she also started a kitchen to prepare food for the associated retail shop, the White Barn Seafood Shop, and to do catering. 

Later in the 1970’s she met the man that would be the love of her life, Jon Olson. Nancy and Jon married in 1983 and had wonderful years together until Jon passed in 2014. Together they worked Nancy’s catering events, which was moonlighting for Jon from his days as a chemical engineering professor at the University of Delaware. 

After the family business closed in 1992, Nancy focused on activities closer to home. She had a passion for gardening and orchids. At one point she had a collection of more than 100 orchid plants. She was an active member of Spade and Trowel Garden Club. Jon and Nancy were active participants in the Spade and Trowel entries at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Nancy was also a coordinator of the Kennett Library Home and Garden Tours for many years. 

Nancy and Jon moved to Jenners Pond in the late 2000’s. They were passionate members of the Pub at Jenners Pond. Nancy eventually became the Pub treasurer. She was also a longtime member of the dining committee and a frequent clerk in the Heron’s Nest shop. 

Nancy is survived by brother, Paul (and his wife, Janet); sister, Jane (and her husband, Richard); son, Chris (and his partner, Roz); stepson, Eric (and his wife, Beatriz); stepdaughter, Kirsten (and her husband, Alan); stepdaughter, Greta; 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. 

A memorial service will be held on March 1, 2025, at Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church, 101 Old Kennett Road, Centerville, DE 19807 with family greeting from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and service following at 2:00.  A Celebration of Life will be held at the Great House at Loch Nairn, 514 McCue Road, Avondale, PA 19311 from 4:00-7:00 pm. A buffet will be served. 

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Kennett Library of Chester County kennettlibrary.org/donate/;  the Brandywine Valley Hemophilia Foundation brandywinehemophilia.org/donate; or the Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society callkats.org/donations. 

Arrangements are being handled by the Grieco Funeral Home Inc. (484-734-8100) of Kennett Square.  To view Nancy's online tribute and to share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.