Obituary
Published in The (Dixon, Ill.) Telegraph, Wednesday, 14 Nov. 2007
DIXON -- Dolores Frances Olar, 71, of Dixon, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at KSB Hospital. She was a retired registered nurse and owned and operated Olar's Sewing Service in Pekin and Dixon until 2006.
Mrs. Olar was born Aug. 15, 1936, in Amboy, the daughter of Sherman Linn and Frances (Miller) Shaw. She married Joseph Olar on Dec. 22, 1962, in Lombard.
Survivors include her husband; five sons, Ethan Olar and Jason Olar, both of Dixon, and Jared (Christina) Olar, Derek (Kim) Olar and Caleb Olar, [all of central Illinois]; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial service is at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon, with Galen Morrison, pastor of United Church of God, Beloit, Wis., officiating. Burial of cremated remains is at Woodside Cemetery, Lee Center. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
A memorial has been established. Condolences may be sent at www.prestonschillingfuneralhome.com.
.......
Dixon woman's talent for sewing 'a gift from God'
Published in The (Dixon, Ill.) Telegraph, Wednesday, 14 Nov. 2007
BY TARA BECKER
SVN REPORTER
Although she was a jack of many trades, many remember Dolores Olar as a talented, self-taught seamstress for local residents.
Olar owned and operated Olar's Sewing Service on U.S. Route 30 in Dixon until 2006.
"She was very talented," said her son, Ethan Olar, of Dixon. "I always tell people that her talent for sewing is a gift from God. She figured out how to do things that a lot of other tailors wouldn't think to do."
Dolores Olar, of Dixon, died Saturday at KSB Hospital; she was 71. The daughter of Sherman and Frances (Miller) Shaw, she was born in Amboy and grew up on her parents' dairy farm. Olar, whom her son says was a "typical country girl," was active in 4-H, showing cattle and winning awards at state fairs. She attended Dixon High School and graduated in 1954.
"She was an extremely impressive lady and impressed everyone she met," Ethan Olar said. "She had a huge heart and helped anyone in need."
In 1957, Dolores graduated from Swedish-American Hospital in Rockford and became a registered nurse, although her nursing career was short-lived.
"I think she realized that this wasn't what she was meant to be," he said.
She married Joseph Olar, whom she met in Chicago through the former Radio Church of God, in 1962, in Lombard. They had five sons: Ethan and Jason, both of Dixon, Jared, Derek and Caleb, [all of central Illinois], and seven grandchildren.
The family moved to Pekin around 1970, where Olar opened a sewing shop in the front room of her home. She also had a contract with bigger stores in Pekin, including Christian Brothers Western Store.
"She liked to do men's clothing -- her forte," Ethan said.
After Dolores' mother died in 1993, the family moved to Dixon, where she continued her sewing business, gaining many loyal customers over the years.
"She wanted to move back home because she loved Dixon and the people," Jared Olar said. "Her family has been in Lee County since the 1840s."
One of his mother's proudest achievements was her work with the Noteables Swing Choir at Pekin High School, where she sewed costumes for the choir in the 1980s, he said. Working with the choir director, she wanted to design a new look for the choir and created sequined vests and skirts, which impressed other show choirs in the state and around the country.
"The next year, a lot of other groups showed up in sequins," Olar said. "It was something brand new that she pioneered."
Olar also enjoyed singing, favoring barbershop, choir and religious music, Jared Olar said.
Her faith also was a prominent part of her life. "She tried to pass on her good morals and values onto the kids," he said. "If anyone got up before 7 a.m. any day of the week, we'd see her in her chair, praying."