Diane Olsen Sampson

Diane Olsen Sampson passed away on Monday, February 10,2020 at the age of 72. She is preceded in death by her parents, James Grady Olsen and Sibyl Kennedy Olsen, and her grandparents, Horace Louis Kennedy, Antonia Gross Kennedy,  Kathryn Byrnes Olsen and John Kristoffer Olsen.  She is survived by her daughter, Kristen Sampson Betit (Matt), two grandchildren,  Nicholas and Grace Betit, brother,  James Grady Olsen II (Debby), and sister, Debbie Olsen Prevost (John).  She was a proud aunt of Joseph Raymond Zierhut (Lindsey), Logan Thomas, Ivy and Leia Zierhut,  Jaime Olsen South (Matt), Katelin and Addison South, Kelly Olsen McGehee (Kyle), Liam and Cooper McGehee, Ashley Prevost Salvaggio (Daniel), Jack, Claire and Jude Salvaggio,  Kristi Prevost Camp (Aaron), and Olsen Camp.
Diane was a life-long resident of New Orleans, LA. She was a graduate of Ursuline Academy, (class of 1965) and Louisiana State University.  She taught in the Baton Rouge and Jefferson Parish School Systems for many years and she served as the bookkeeper in the family business, Olsen and Kennedy alongside her brother, father and grandfather.  She loved to volunteer at Ursuline Academy,  the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Thanksgiving Dinner, Greenwalt Alzheimer’s Day Center, and Our Lady of Wisdom.  Diane was always the life of the party who loved anything New Orleans, LSU, the New Orleans Saints, antiques, shopping, art, and spending time with friends and family.  She truly never met a stranger!
We would like to thank the entire staff and community of Brookdale Mandeville and Harmony at Five Forks in Simpsonville, SC, of which she was a recent resident, for their assistance and compassion. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, February 15th, at 1:30pm at Jacob Schoen and Son, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans. Visitation Saturday from 11:30-1:30. Interment to follow services at the Cypress Grove Cemetery in New Orleans. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.  Diane would always find ways to help the less fortunate so we encourage you to make a difference in your community in her honor! ARRANGEMENTS BY  JACOB SCHOEN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119  Condolences may be left at www.SchoenFH.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Diane Olsen Sampson, please visit our floral store.