Manville, NJ – Olga (Leich) Zydiak, age 92, passed away on Monday, September 5, 2016. The second child and the only daughter of Russian immigrants Simon Liach and Pauline Filon, Olga was born at home in Port Elizabeth, NJ on September 11, 1924 and lived there until her parents moved to the North side of Manville, NJ, when she was about 18 months old.

Showing genuine academic and artistic talent and a strong work ethic during her high school years, Olga spent much of her time working to help support her family, most notably as a physician's assistant for Dr. Hurd in Bound Brook. Back at home at 1150 Green Street, Manville, Olga and her older brother Peter helped their parents manage a yard full of farm animals, including her favorite cow, Bessie. She distinguished herself in Mr. Otis's Biology class with incomparably-detailed drawings of dissected specimens and by routinely earning high honors at Bound Brook High, graduating in 1942. During her post-high school years, Olga was a telephone operator, and, for her part in the war effort, was an armature winder at the Diehl Division of the Singer Manufacturing plant in Finderne. As a member of Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Olga caught the eye of her then-future husband, Theodore Zydiak who, at the time, was serving in the Marine Corps during World War II. Olga and Ted married in 1946 and began a family in 1951. Typical of the cultural period in America, Olga became a dedicated housewife to raise her children, eventually returning to the work world as a receptionist for the Central Commercial/Ruberoid Company, then, most notably, as a scheduler in the Production Control department of Ethicon, Inc. in Somerville for 25 years, retiring in 1990. At home, Olga enjoyed crocheting and sewing, often making her own clothes and creating clever costumes for her children for Halloween and for school plays. Olga spent leisure time in Point Pleasant Beach where she and Ted kept their own boat and enjoyed many hours deep sea fishing with family and friends, and spending quiet time just watching the boats going out and coming into the inlet. Along with her beloved husband of 66 years, Olga was affiliated with Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church and the Holy Ghost Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Manville.

Olga is survived by her children: Wayne (and Sharon) Zydiak of High Bridge, NJ, Marc (and Maggie) Zydiak of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, Daria (and Kirk) Hoster of Shawnee, Oklahoma, and Timothy Zydiak of Hillsborough, NJ; grandchildren: Ryan Zydiak of Mexico, Tonya Brie Pulec of Lincoln, Nebraska, Paige Hoster Good and Erin Paulson of Oklahoma; step-grandchildren: Curt Meaney of Hampton, NJ, and Chrissy and Shannon Casula of Atlantic County; and great grandchildren, David and Morgan Pulec of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Daniela Zydiak Cisneros of Mexico.

Always a hard-working woman and a selfless, generous and loving mother, Olga will be sorely missed and long-remembered.

At the family's request, a private memorial service was held through Fucillo and Warren Funeral Home, Manville, NJ.