Olga Selenia Torres

Olga Selenia Torres, a beloved and compassionate mother, wife, and friend, passed away on December 28, 2025, at the age of 92. Born on October 19, 1933, in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, Olga was best known for her adventurous spirit, her devotion to God and family, and ability to build community around her.

Olga left Puerto Rico at an early age, but always held the island and her family close in her heart. Foreshadowing the rest of her life, Olga traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut in her late teens in pursuit of higher education. She then moved to Boulder, Colorado where she ultimately earned her bachelor’s degree. After graduation, Olga set out to fulfill a remarkable career, including taking on teaching opportunities, philanthropic activities, diplomatic roles, transitioning into a successful corporate career, and in the end returning to her first love of teaching, all while raising a rapidly expanding family.

Olga moved to Venezuela in 1962, after her husband graduated as a Mining Engineer. Both became Rotarians and were elected to the Governorship of District 435, which included the countries of Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. Through the community relations she fostered, Olga was exposed to diplomatic and political opportunities, which would shape the next phase of her life.

In the late ‘70s, Olga served as the Venezuelan Vice-Consul in Hamburg, Germany, and a few years later, became the First Secretary of the Venezuelan Embassy in Bonn, Germany, where she served in that capacity for more than 5 years. Both these roles allowed her to demonstrate her dedication and commitment to fostering international relations, while also giving her the opportunity to indulge one of her favorite hobbies, travel. While living in Germany, she took the occasion to visit neighboring countries, often taking her children with her on adventures throughout the continent to expose them to differing cultures and traditions.

After her diplomatic posts ended, Olga shifted course, taking on a corporate position at Nestle, ultimately ending up as the third highest official in Latin America and later being transferred to Los Angeles, California. While Olga claimed to have retired at some point, she never actually did, moving to Florida in the mid ‘90s and then to Kennesaw, Georgia, taking on English and Spanish teaching positions, while gathering her family around her, to dedicate her time and energy to her loved ones.

Throughout her life, Olga prided herself on being a people’s person and her infectious personality meant that she was always surrounded by friends and loved ones. Olga never met a stranger and was quick to put together a game night, which would, without fail, evolve into dinner and ultimately end up a late night of dancing with friends. She lived life to the fullest, always maintaining a positive outlook and a persistent and warm demeanor

even in the toughest moments of her life, including several battles with cancer. She endured difficult challenges that would have caused others to fail, but Olga met them head-on, always fighting for herself and her family. Her strong faith in God was her anchor until her death.

Olga was resilient until the end, being a firm believer in looking to the future while remembering the lessons of the past. Her strong, Catholic, faith served as a guiding light in her life throughout all of its challenges and successes, and she never failed to have her rosary in hand to pray for the intentions of anyone who asked. She was always looking for new students who she could teach a new language to, even if they did not know they were being taught by “Ms. Torres.” Her love for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was deep and profound, and she cherished every moment spent with them, always offering a freshly cooked Puerto Rican meal, a listening ear, a warm embrace, and, if needed, a dance or three to lift the spirits.

Olga is survived by her children, Grisselle Bazzani, Kevin Lares and his wife Isabel, Carlos T. Lares Jr. and his wife Carmen, her adopted daughter Ginette Diaz, the father of her children, Carlos A. Lares Cordero, her brothers, Pepe, Johnny, and William Torres, her nieces and nephews, her cousins, and her eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Olga is preceded in death by her parents; Issac Torres and Juana Torres, her five brothers, and her son-in-law, Roberto Bazzani.

A visitation will be held at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home, located at 2950 North Cobb Pkwy, Kennesaw, GA 30152, on January 4, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will take place at Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1618 Ben King Rd, Kennesaw, GA 30144, on January 5, 2026, at 11:00 am. The committal service will follow at Kennesaw Memorial Park, 1306 Whitlock Ave, Marietta, GA 30064.

Olga Selenia Torres will always be remembered for her adventurous spirit, her compassionate nature, and her unwavering devotion to her family and friends. Her legacy will continue to inspire all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, Olga and her family request donations be made in Olga’s name to two causes close to her heart, the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word (https://sisterservants.org/donation/), and the American Cancer Society (donate.cancer.org).