Matilda Irene Olson

It is with profound sadness and immense love that the family of Matilda Irene Olson (née Bene) announces her passing at the age of 86, surrounded by the family she so deeply loved, in the care and compassion of Unit 37 at the Foothills Hospital.

Born in Calgary, she was defined by her ever-positive spirit, her unwavering faith in God, and her boundless love for those around her. After working for several years as a medical laboratory technologist, she dedicated her life to her family, finding joy in every single moment spent with all her cherished children. Matilda also had a famously soft heart for animals; she delighted in the company of everyone’s pets and absolutely adored her own beautiful little kitten, Cricket.

Matilda’s warmth, grace, and radiant positivity will be forever missed by her surviving children: Donald Olson (Crysta), Richard Hall (Doris), Ken Olson (Joann), David Olson, and Judy Mosur (Gord). She is also lovingly remembered by her sisters, Rose Bene (Howard Yancey) and Violet Crilly; her sisters-in-law, Linda Bene and Toka Hall; and her precious grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, who were the light of her life.

She is now peacefully reunited with those who preceded her in death, including her parents, Elizabeth and Alexander Bene; first husband, Herbert Hall; her second husband, Erwin Olson; her brother, Alex Bene; her brothers-in-law, Tom Crilly and Jim Hall; her stepdaughters, Ruby and Karen Olson; and her grandchildren, Tina Olson and Michael Welychka.

A Visitation will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service to honour and celebrate Matilda’s beautiful life will be held at Sharon Danish Lutheran Church, 210 – 10 Avenue N.E. on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. All who knew and loved her are warmly welcome to attend both.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to your favourite animal shelter or the SPCA in Matilda’s memory, as a tribute to her lifelong love for all things furry.

This obituary has been authorized by the family for posting on Foster’s Garden Chapel Funeral Home’s website. As such, it is protected against any form of reproduction or redistribution without prior consent from the family.