Olga Elizabeth Serena ALLISON
(nee BURCH)
December 31, 1911 – April 16, 2017
It is with great sadness the family announces the death of their loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend on April 16, 2017, at Wyndham Manor, Oakville.
Olga was born at home in the small town of Mannville, Alberta, the fourth (and last surviving) of the six children of John and Carrie Burch. During the Great Depression, she lived life as portrayed in the classic novel/movie “Why Shoot the Teacher” – riding horses, often in sub-zero weather, to teach in a one-room ten-grade schoolhouse on the prairies for pay reduced from $100 to $50 a month (Depression pay). Later she married Charles Allison and lived in Edmonton (Highlands) for a few years. She spent most of her life in Vancouver (Kerrisdale) where she raised her two children, cared for her elderly in-laws and started her own private kindergarten (Kiddie Korner Kindergarten). She recalled this as one of the happiest times of her life. When Kingergarten became part of the British Columbia elementary school program, she went back to school, with trepidation because of her age (in her fifties), to upgrade her Alberta Normal School qualifications to British Columbia Teacher qualifications. She graduated with Honours. She then taught kindergarten at Shaughnessy School for ten years until her retirement in 1974. At age 80, widowed, she moved to Oakville, Ontario, to be close to her two children. She enthusiastically built a new life, spending time with family, making many new friends, entertaining and playing bridge.
She is greatly missed by her daughter Karen Galbraith and her son Frank Allison. She is also sadly missed by son-in-law David, adored grandson Paul (Kelly Forsythe-Galbraith) and great-grandchildren Aidan and Abby Galbraith.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Wyndham Manor for their exemplary care.
At Olga’s request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Cremation has taken place.