Phyllis H. Olsen

Phyllis was born on August 24, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Stanley and Helen Isaksen. Phyllis attended PS 102 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn before graduating from Fort Hamilton High School in 1956. After high school, she attended Berkeley Secretarial School and worked at Kidder Peabody in New York City as an executive secretary. Phyllis met the love of her life, Johannes, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, where they were married in 1958. Johannes’ career in education took them all over – Brooklyn, New Jersey, Vermont, and Virginia before they settled in Williamsville, NY where Johannes opened Williamsville East High School. Johannes and Phyllis made the best team: while Johannes was working, Phyllis ran the show at home. She expertly took care of everything – from tending her garden, managing the household and always making sure there was a homemade dinner or baked goods available – all while showering her five children with love, serenading them with songs, as well as instilling pride and knowledge of their Norwegian roots. A woman of steadfast faith, Phyllis was empathetic, selfless, and compassionate. It began with her family and extended throughout her community. She volunteered often: working in the church nursery, singing in the church choir, helping at Friends of the Night People, and leading a weekly sing-a-long with patients at the Erie County Medical Center. She also was an active member of the Valparaiso University Guild and Young Life. She was an ardent Williamsville East High School fan, supporting everything from sports to the arts. Phyllis always enjoyed the fellowship at the churches she attended and was blessed by her Bible study groups. Phyllis was a friend to everyone she met; she was one of those people who never met a stranger. Everywhere she went, she went with a smile, a song, a story, and a listening ear. You could often find her enjoying a good joke or funny story (or recounting her own!). Her laughter lit up every room she was in, and there was no shortage of love, laughter, music, and life in the Olsen home. Phyllis found joy and love in the smallest of moments and made sure to spread it everywhere she went. Her legacy will continue through all who knew and loved her. Phyllis was preceded in death by her loving husband of 56 years, Johannes Olsen; her parents, Stanley and Helen Isaksen; her aunt Hendy Julia Olsen; and her sister Virginia Isaksen Renshaw. She was a loving mother to her children Elisabeth (David) Sturdevant, Jonathan (Kimberly) Olsen, Laura (Chuck) Bernabei, Kristen (Stephen) Parisi, and Peter (Amy) Olsen; cherished grandmother of Jonathan (Amanda), Amy (Joseph), Daniel (Christa), Andrew (Samantha), Krista (Matthew), Katie, Nicholas, Erika, Stephen, Madeline, and Helene; and devoted great-grandmother of fifteen. She loved each member of her family with all her heart, and she enjoyed being involved in their lives and all their activities. The family will be present to receive friends Friday, April 21st from 7 – 9 pm at Perna, Dengler, Roberts Funeral Home, 1671 Maple Rd, Williamsville, 14221. Friends are invited to attend a funeral service Saturday morning, April 22nd, at 10 am at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 8900 Sheridan Drive, Clarence 14031. Please assemble at the church. In lieu of flowers, gifts and memorials may be made to GreenField Health and Rehabilitation Center through the Niagara Lutheran Health System (https://niagaralutheran.thankyou4caring.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=298), The Dementia Society (dementiasociety.org) or the Lewy Body Dementia Association (https://dementiasociety.charityproud.org/donate), and Hospice Buffalo (hospicebuffalo.com).

Arrangements by Beach-Tuyn Funeral Home.