In Memoriam: Longtime Fair Havenite Olive Tonneman

Longtime Fair Havenite Olive Tonneman passed away peacefully on Feb. 25 after a long and happy life.

Olive was preceded in death by her loving husband, Roger, 34 years ago. The two met in high school and became high school sweethearts.

“Roger had perfect pitch and was a professional musician. Olive was tone deaf. Together, they made beautiful music …

“After losing Roger in 1989, Olive moved to Fair Haven. There, known as ‘Mia’ to the neighborhood, she solidified the integral role she would play in (her granddaughter) Katie’s life. Olive had joy in everyday life and in her family. She was kind-hearted to friends and honest with all. She laughed until tears fell. She had quite a spiritual side too, and was confident she would be reunited with Roger after passing through this life. In one of the many letters her children have since found, she wrote: ‘The most important thing I want you to remember is that I loved my life from my childhood shared with my sister through my life with Roger and my children. I had a very happy, satisfying life. I loved my husband dearly. I don’t know what lies ahead after passing through this life. I do know that we go on existing because Roger proved that to me. I’ll be able to go on living through your memories. I will try hard to share another lifetime with you …’
We love you, Mom, and will miss you. Until we meet again.”
Loved ones of Olive Tonneman in her obituary

More about Olive …

Born in Elizabeth, Olive was raised in an extended family environment in Linden, the daughter of Albert and Olive Winans Handy. She loved her childhood experiences. She had one sister, Edna, who was her best friend and confidant throughout her life. The two were so close in age they went through grade school in the same class, and were mistaken for twins. Edna passed away in 2022.

In 1967, Olive and Roger moved to Colts Neck with their three children, Lynn, Noel, and Roger. Within a few years, Olive decided to go to college, while working full time as a teacher’s aide in Colts Neck, and she continued on to earn her master’s degree, “always making sure she left a home-cooked meal for the family before leaving for work in the morning. She had a loving but no-nonsense approach to teaching, she enjoyed her 25 years of teaching in Colts Neck, and she had such an impact on students that some still corresponded with her to this day.”

Family was very important to Olive. She had six grandchildren who survive her: daughter Lynn and her husband Bob Miller have three children, Jeffrey (Tracy), Brian (Snow), and James. Noel has one daughter, Katie. Roger and wife Carol have two children, Luke and Ingrid. The grandchildren then produced six great-grandchildren: Luke (Kirsten) have Roger, Hazel and Tiffany. Katie (Chris Kopecki) have Caroline, Jack and James. Brian (Snow) have Esean. “Her grands and greats loved and respected Olive because she was a kind, supportive, encouraging, and involved grandma.”

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. Graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 10:30 a.m. at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home