We Remember
OLINGER, Mary
January 1, 1970 — January 1, 1970
Mary Alberta (Edey) OLINGER – predeceased by her husband John August Olinger on 16 July 1998 and son, Peter on 13 September, 2011, passed away peacefully at Cottonwoods Care home in Kelowna, BC on Saturday, September 28, 2013.
She leaves behind the rest of her family Helena Goodwin in Westbridge, BC, Phil (Wendy) in Kelowna, BC., and the late Peter’s wife, Linda. There are nine grandchildren… Justin Harris (Brigitte), Trevor and Kelley; Patricia (Ole Smink), Danielle Lynn and Alexis (Steffon Walby), Krista (Ralph Feenstra), Lee (Lindsey Smith) and Neil along with eight great grandchildren Brendan, Corbin and Aaron; Reanna; Braxton and Carter; Lilian and Drevin.
Mary Alberta Olinger was born in Carmangay, Alberta on June 6, 1918. She was predeceased by one older sister, Margaret (Sidney Preston) and three older brothers Gordon (Mabel), Charles Alexander (Margaret May Jean Johns), and John (known as Jack, whose spouse was Alice Karl). Mary had three younger sisters, Eileen (Ralph Pringle), Jean (Sister Jean from Providence Motherhouse in Kingston, Ontario) and Loretta May who died very young. She is outlived by her younger brother Raymond (Thursa).
Her father, Alexander Edey, immigrated from Peebles, Peebleshire, Scotland in 1904 then returned to Scotland and married his childhood sweetheart, Margaret Ann Murphy, who was born in Frizington, Cumbria, England of Irish parents and she emigrated from England in 1910. Alex Edey returned to Canada and became a farmer.
As a young girl, Mary loved to ride horses and, as a young woman, she worked as a waitress until meeting her husband, John in Dawson Creek, BC. They were married in Grand Prairie, Alberta in 1940. Together they had sawmills in Revelstoke and at the end of the rail-grade at Dawson Creek where Mary, dressed as a man, hauled timbers for the construction of the original Alaska Highway.
From there they went to Edmonton and tried their hand at building houses, then moved to Kelowna and had a motel. On August 15, 1949, they bought the Don McLean Lumber Ltd. mill at Carmi and lived in Carmi until they sold the timber rights to Boundary Timber. During that same time they owned and operated Rutland Sawmill. As well as this was the time they began adding to the family with the first of three adoptions, being Peter. Helena was adopted not too long after that, then quite a gap until they adopted one more treasure, Philip!!
They moved back to Kelowna while they were running Carmi and Rutland sawmills. When they shut the mills down they ran various companies including the Rutland Door Factory which is now Mara Lumber. John was able to retire quite young and they spent the next years raising grandchildren and great grandchildren. John and Mary loved children!
Mary was also very active through the years, volunteering with the Kelowna General Hospital and was very involved with her church and the Catholic Women’s League for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Kelowna, BC.
Mary will long be remembered for driving her brown Rolls Royce with license plates of MARY O, throughout town dropping off or picking up her grandchildren and great grandchildren!! One remarkable, loving and devoted lady has gone to her final resting place to watch over and guide all her loved ones that she has left behind. Rest in peace. We love you, Mom!
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, 2268 Pandosy St., Kelowna, BC V1Y 1T2 in Mary Olinger’s name or online at http://kghfoundation.com/ways-to-donate/tribute-giving/.
Prayers will be recited on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 7:00 pm followed by Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 10:30 am both atImmaculate Conception Catholic Church, 839 Sutherland Ave., Kelowna, BC. Interment to follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery on Casorso Road.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”
Prayer Service
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Service
Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 10:30 am
Location
Immaculate Conception Church
Share with Others:
Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, 2268 Pandosy St., Kelowna, BC V1Y 1T2
Service Information
Service Details
The prayer service for OLINGER, Mary is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at 7:00 pm at located at 839 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna, BC.
The service for OLINGER, Mary is scheduled for Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 10:30 am. Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Address & Contact for Service Location:
Immaculate Conception Church
839 Sutherland Ave., Kelowna, BC
Phone:
Special Requests:
None.
Funeral Pointers:
Condolences
Dear Phil,Wendy and family;
Please accept my condolences on the death of your mother, Phil.
Her obituary was so well done and she sounded like a wonderful woman.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless you.
Beryl Baldeo
Thank you Beryl, for your kind thoughts. We know she is in a better place and with all her loved ones who have passed on already. She will be missed but in our hearts and thoughts always.
Wendy
Helena, Phil and Families
We are so sorry to hear of Mary’s passing. We have so many happy memories of her fun times with Nellie and Marg. What an amazing life she and your dad lived.
Our Love and Prayers
Mel and Anne Campbell
Mel & Anne,
Thank you so much for your message. Nellie and Mary were such true friends right to the end and was shown by Mary leaving this earth to join your Mom on her birthday! Does that mean they had spaghetti in heaven! Phil has always told me your Mom made “the best”! Thank you for the kind words.
To the Olinger Family,
our thoughts and prayers are with you..
in knowing Mrs.Olinger all of my life I have awesome memories..My father Val had many stories and a special relationship with your mom…
Domenic and Lina Rampone
Thank you so much for your thoughtful words. Mary will be missed by all who knew her.
Phil and Wendy, we are sorry for your loss. Hopefully, what are painful thoughts of loss now turn into memories of a life well lived into the future. Take care of yourselves.
Thank you Carl, for your special words of condolence that you shared with us after the passing of Phil’s Mom. She had a long and adventurous life and leaves behind treasured memories to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.
So very sorry to hear of Mary’s passing. I always remember her as my “other Mom”. She and John were the best example of family I knew. I was very lucky to have the Olinger family in my life when I was young. Mary was so loving and kind…always had time for one more “lesson”. I am sure Peter and John are happy to have her with them at last.
Thank you for sharing your memories of Mary. She will live on in the hearts of all who were touched by her kind ways.
We were deeply saddened by the news of Mary’s passing. Our heart felt condolences to your family. Memories will live on forever…
Your message of condolence is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to send it. Mary has left all who knew her, with memories that will not fade.
Dear Phil & Wendy
We are so saddened to hear that your mom has passed away Phil. Our thoughts & prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Thank you Marlene and Paul for your message. We are reassured that Mary is with her family who went on before her and is no longer plagued by earthly diseases. She will be in our hearts and memories, always.
When we moved to Kelowna in 1978, we met three of Mary’s grand daughters and their mum, Helena. Through them we understood the very strong connections that they had with Mary. By all accounts she was a remarkable woman, and she will surely be missed.
Thank you for sharing your memories and for your caring words.
Dani and family
So sorry to hear about Grandma “O”‘s passing. Loved her spontinaity and carisma of life. She lived life with dignity and had fun.
May you find peace in this time of sorrow.
Thoughts and prayer, Kerri Tutt
Thank you for sharing your condolence.
To the Olinger Family,
Our condolences to all of you who knew this delightful lady so well. She has left you with so many wonderful memories to comfort you.
Wishing you all peace at this sad time.
Allan & Teresa Odynsky(Justin Harris'(Brigitte) in-laws.
Thank you for taking the time to extend your condolences to the family. It is greatly appreciated. Mary has left all of us with special memories as she has done with all who were touched by her acquaintance. She will be greatly missed.
Phil,Wendy & Olinger Family
We are sorry to hear about Aunt Mary’s passing and have been thinking about you. We will remember her wonderful smile and sparkling eyes and remember how we used to enjoy the stories she always had to tell us when she would visit. May she rest in peace and now again be with the love of her life; Uncle Johnny. Love from the Pringle Family.
Thank you for the love and caring that accompanied your condolence!Mary was such a character and will be greatly missed but you are right… she will now be with both her husband and son and all those whom she loved so dearly who went on before her! I bet she will likely find that favorite horse of hers as well! She will live on in our hearts and thoughts forever. She was a true lady!!!