Ilze M. Olmsted, 79, of Lititz, PA, passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Moravian Manor. Born in Riga, Latvia, Ilze was the Daughter of the late Augusts Maizitis and Erika (Lielnors) Maizitis and remained close to and proud of her Latvian heritage.

She was a professional librarian, working as Head of Collection Development at the Simmons College Library in Boston before her retirement to Lancaster. She had previously worked at the Uris Library at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

She was a lifelong Democrat, and enjoyed crossword puzzles, gardening, reading, yoga, and listening to music.

Ilze is survived by her son, John A., married to Molly S. Olmsted of Lancaster, her grandchildren Joel, Paige, and Helen Olmsted, and by her sister, Laimdota Maizitis, married to William McCauley of Dublin, CA. She was preceded in death by her sister, Mara Maizitis.

Memorial services were held privately for her family. Ilze has asked that contributions be made in her memory to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL, 36104.