OLGA JOHANNESSON

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OLGA JOHANNESSON It is with deep sorrow that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Mom, Amma, Langamma and Aunt Olga Johannesson. She died peacefully on August 9 at the Betel Home in Gimli, with family close by. She will certainly live on in the hearts of family and friends who loved her. She will be so very sadly missed by her daughter Rosalind (Einar) Vigfusson and their sons Eric (Jennifer) and Kristian. Her son in law Richard Nordal (Alice) and his children Roxanne Nordal (Darcy Kozub); Gregory (Pamela) Nordal and Natalie (Mark) Klym. Also by her great-grandchildren Nicole and Paul Yaremus, Emily and Bethany Nordal; Shae Lynne, Brenna and Meagan Klym; Nathan and Adam Vigfusson. Also survived by sisters in law Marge Holm and Ingunn Palsson; brother in law Victor Johannesson, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her first husband Johannes Palsson, her son Baldur Palsson, her second husband Thor Johannesson and her daughter Jona Nordal, as well as by her three brothers, Wilfred (Vibba) Holm; Steinthor Holm and Ragnar (Begga) Holm; also predeceased by her in-laws Lilja (Halldor) Martin; Pall, Valdimar and Sigrun Palsson; Vilborg (Vibba) Holm and Bergrose (Begga) Holm; Binna Johannesson, Valdi (Thora) Johannesson, Ragna (Carl) Vopni, and Dagmar (Lorne) Cosford. Olga was the third of four children born to Egill and Rosa Holm and their only daughter. She was born on the family farm in Vidir, Manitoba on May 31, 1919, and at the time of her passing had recently celebrated her 90th birthday. She grew up in the Vidir district and attended the Vidir School. She worked in Winnipeg for a time as a domestic before she married my Dad, Joe Palsson. She then became a member of the Geysir District for 27 years where she raised her three children. Life was sometimes very difficult due to illness in the family, but Mom always tried to maintain a positive attitude and tried to make the best of any situation. It could be worse was one of her favorite sayings. She worked very hard and was very resourceful, using whatever she had at hand, creating a welcoming, warm, nurturing and loving home for us all. After dad passed away in 1970 she worked as a nanny for several months when she met Thor at a community choir practice. He had been a good friend in their youth and it was not long till they had rekindled a wonderful friendship. They were married (in fact they eloped!!!) in June of 1971 and were fortunate to share 25 wonderful years of marriage at their home in Vidir. It is said that there is nothing as wonderful as making a positive difference in the life of a child. Mom had the ability to interact with children at their level, making them feel so special and there are many wonderful stories told of how she was able to do that, using her imagination and very little else. Her own family, as well as many others often recalled, with love and gratitude, these times they spent with her. She was fun to be with!! She was a true nature lover and every spring and fall she and her three children took a pilgrimage of sortsa walk in the woods that surrounded our home, where we observed plants, animals and insects in their natural habitat. She encouraged us to use our five senses to fully appreciate what we observed. Mom loved music and singing and joined choirs whenever she could. She took part in several community musical productions and used her imagination and natural creative talents in costuming and props. She enjoyed writing and leaves us a legacy of thoughts and observations of times gone by. She also enjoyed all kinds of handwork as well as painting pictures. Her hands were never idle and we will treasure her many handcrafted gifts. Halloween was always a special time for Thor and Olga as they welcomed many visitors, large and small to their haunted house . She loved to dress up and visit the neighbours, leaving them wondering who the slightly familiar witch.......or sasquatch was that had just come by. Olga was very proud of her Icelandic heritage and was so pleased to have been able to travel to Iceland four times to visit relatives and to tour the awesome countryside. She kept in close contact with many of her relatives there. She spoke, read and wrote Icelandic and taught her children to do the same. She was very adept at cooking and baking all the delicious, traditional Icelandic foods. Thank you Mom and Amma for everything. May God keep you in His care. Rest gently until we meet again. We will miss your companionship and your love and laughter as we go along life's way. Goda nott elskan The family would like to thank the staff at the Betel Home in Gimli for their exemplary care and for their thoughtfulness, sincere love and compassion shown to Mom over the past four years. Immediate cremation has taken place. On Saturday, August 15 there will be an interment of ashes at the Vidir graveyard at 12:30 p.m. which all are welcome to attend. Following the interment there will be a Celebration of her life at 2:00 p.m. at the Ardal - Geysir Lutheran Church in Arborg, Manitoba. All of Olga's family and friends are to be considered her Honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ardal Geysir Lutheran Church, Arborg, MB R0C 0A0; Betel Home Recreation Department, Box 10, Gimli, MB R0C1B0 or Johannes Palsson Memorial Music Scholarship Fund c/o Rosalind Vigfusson, Box 55, Arborg MB R0C 0A0. Arborg (MacKenzie) Funeral Home in care of arrangements

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 13, 2009