Helga Olsen

Helga was born on November 23, 1940, in Saalfelden, Austria. Helga’s early years were shaped by extraordinary resilience. As a young child during World War II, she was sent at the age of seven on a Red Cross train to Switzerland, where she lived with a family she had never met – an experience that reflected both the hardship of the time and the quiet strength that would define her life.

In 1965, Helga immigrated to Michigan, where she soon met and married her beloved husband, Robert Olsen, following a whirlwind courtship. They shared 49 years of marriage before his passing.

Helga was a devoted mother to her three children: Kristin Wallace, who preceded her in death; Eric Olsen (Jennifer Finkel); and Philip Olsen (Katy). She was a proud and loving grandmother to Kariee Wallace (Adam Sriskandan), Sophie Olsen and Abby Olsen, and a cherished great-grandmother to Daphne. Her family was the center of her world, and she spent countless hours caring for and nurturing each of her grandchildren.

Known for her independence and deep generosity, Helga left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her. She was an accomplished knitter, creating treasured pieces that will continue to bring warmth and comfort to her loved ones for years to come.

Helga was a dedicated volunteer at St John Lutheran School and a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church, where her faith and commitment to service were evident. In her later years, she found friendship and community at Waltonwood Main Assisted Living, where she will be dearly missed by both residents and staff.

Helga’s life was one of quiet strength, enduring love, and unwavering devotion to her family. Her legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured and the lives she touched.

Interment of ashes will be at Mt. Avon Cemetery in winter of 2026. The date will be updated here.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Helga’s honor to St. John Lutheran Church, 1011 W. University Drive, Rochester, Michigan 48307.