Celia Olsen

Waterford — Celia Julia (Cintrón) Olsen, of 2 Valerie St., Waterford, entered eternal rest March 14, 2024, at the age of 94. Celia was the daughter of Rafael Cintrón Álvarez and Mariana Rivas Cintrón. She was born Feb. 16, 1930, in the town of Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, where her mother was a school teacher and her father owned and operated their 300-acre family farm. She always had fond memories of her childhood on the farm with her brothers and sisters, where she developed a deep love for animals and nature.

Celia was a graduate of Immaculate Conception Academy in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and of Siena Heights University in Adrian, Mich. Celia was united in marriage to the late Robert F. Olsen Sr., on June 11, 1955, at Sacred Heart Church in Groton. He died

May 22, 2001. Upon arriving in Connecticut, Celia worked as a clerk typist and Spanish translator at the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics in Groton, until she left employment to start her family. She was later employed at JC Penney for many years until retiring in 1997 as a merchandising assistant.

Celia enjoyed gardening, sewing, cake decorating and traveling. Among her most rewarding travels were a trip to Spain, home of her ancestors, and a trip to other parts of Europe. She loved animals, especially cats.

Celia is survived by daughter Leslie Ellen Knowlton and her husband Anthony of Milbridge, Maine; son Robert Francis Olsen Jr. and his wife Carolyn, of Davie, Fla.; daughter Kathleen Marie Fugett and her husband Daniel of Chesapeake, Va.; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Celia was predeceased by sisters, María Elvira Cintrón Muñoz, Ana María Cintrón Lopez and Marina Cintrón Rivas of Puerto Rico; sister Estela Cintrón Kuptzin of New London; and brothers, Néstor Cintrón Rivas and Rafael Cintrón Rivas of Puerto Rico.

The family will receive visitors from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, at Neilan Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. A funeral home service will follow. Interment will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Jefferson Avenue, New London. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Connecticut Humane Society. To share a memory or to sign the online guestbook, please visit www. neilanfuneralhome.com.