Olive R. Sherbert

Olive Sherbert, age 102, formerly of Waterbury, Vermont, and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away May 25, 2024 at Daughters of Sarah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Albany, New York.

Olive was born Marie Olivette Rachel Poutre on January 24, 1922 in S. Sebastien d’Iberville, Canada to Oliva Poutre and Germaine Duquette.  She became a naturalized citizen of the United States on February 9, 1954. Her early life represents the struggles of immigrants who settled in the US in the early 1900's and who worked selflessly and laboriously to build worthwhile and dignified lives.  As a young child, Olive, along with her parents and four younger siblings, earned a subsistence living by farming their own land. They helped build a vibrant community of strong moral and religious values in Irasburg, Vermont.  Olive nursed her sick father at home for two years before his death and then helped her mother and siblings run the farm until it was sold in the early 1950s.

She married Bernard E. Sherbert of Troy, Vermont, September 4, 1944. Olive was employed by the original Capitol Stationers in Montpelier, Vermont, and then by the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, Vermont, where she was first a research assistant and later an assistant in the accounting department where in the 1960’s she developed a system to post the hospital’s payroll on IBM punch card computers.  As did many women of her time, she quietly challenged barriers, paving the way for the efforts of women of the 1970’s. Olive was a golfer, bridge player, and fabulous cook.

Most of all, she loved her family and close friends with great fortitude and selflessness. Olive was predeceased by her husband Bernard, May 15, 2010. She is survived by her daughter Jeanne Donnelly (wife of Joseph, d. 2002); her grandson, Joseph and great-granddaughter, Makiya, of Slingerlands; her granddaughter, Susan, and great granddaughter, Nina of Schenectady; beloved niece, nephews and their families.

The family sincerely thanks the administration and staff at Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center for their untiring and compassionate care.

A private inurnment will be held at the American Saints Mausoleum, Saint Agnes Cemetery Menands, New York. Donations may be made by check in memory of Olive Sherbet to the Daughters of Sarah Jewish Foundation, 180 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany, NY 12203 or by donation online at Daughters of Sarah Community for Seniors website: Foundation, Donate, select Annual Fund.