Alvina Mae Olson, age 78, a resident of Glendale Heights, passed away on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025. She was born on May 14, 1946 in Warren, Minnesota to Bardolf and Edith (Wimpfheimer) Pederson.

As a child she moved from Tacoma, WA back to MN after her mother died when she was 9 years old. She grew up on a farm with her father and four siblings, and they took on many shared household responsibilities at an early age. She recalled many long bus rides on gravel roads to town for school and an active social life through their local church, Melo Lutheran, and much support from aunts, uncles, and family friends in the rural community. With humble roots, she became a strong and resilient woman.

Alvina graduated from high school in 1964 and began working in Minneapolis as a clerical worker shortly thereafter. She married John K. Olson, also from Warren MN, in 1965. Her next job, and one she excelled at, was as a pastor's wife. Even as a young woman at that time in her 20's, she was very sociable, gracious, keen and adaptable, and made life-long friends in the local communities they lived in during that time; Malta and Saco, Montana in the late 1960's and later Fredonia, North Dakota in the mid 1970's. The family moved to the Chicago area in 1978, where she began working outside the home as a secretary.

She took great joy and pride in supporting her children's and grandchildren's interests and accomplishments in school, music, sports, and advocacy; and was always their biggest fan and supporter in every endeavor. When they were playing sports, she was sometimes known (out of character for her typically calm demeanor) to excitedly cheer over-enthusiastically at soccer, football, basketball, and lacrosse games, as well as cross-country races. Her ebullience and love overflowed to us all in the family and could not be contained or restrained. Even when we were not with her physically, it was still ever-present and will remain so.

Alvina had many varied interests. She loved gardening and choosing and planting flowers; even and especially pulling weeds. She always found time for long walks around the park near the house. Always an avid baker, she delighted in sharing and trading new recipes at potlucks and cookie swaps. She was an active member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church Quilters group providing quilts for Lutheran World Relief. For many years, she also contributed homemade dishes every month for DuPage PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter). She immensely enjoyed group activities especially picking grapes for harvest and bottling wine in the family-fun assembly line at Fergedaboudit Vineyard in Hanover, IL. Alvina always looked forward to traveling, from long road trips 'up North' to MN, or cross country to visit relatives in WA, OR and CA; and reminisced fondly and often about exciting international trips to Norway, Costa Rica, Tunisia, and Cabo San Lucas. She was also very interested in genealogy and kept connected with many cousins far and wide.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, John; her loving children Loretta Zainine, Edith Campo, and Benjamen (Victoria) Olson; and her six grandchildren Jeanette Zainine, John "Jack" (fiancé Caroline Cooney) Campo, Fiona Campo, Francesca Campo, Brock Olson and Adelena Olson; her siblings Eddie (Carolyn) Pederson, Ronald (Charlotte) Pederson, Dorothea (the late Jack) Bird, and Betty (the late Donald) Cameron. Also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 21st, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 22nd, 2025 at 11:00 am with a visitation beginning at 10 AM at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 802 E Geneva Rd, Wheaton IL 60187.  At a future date, Alvina will be laid to rest at Melo Lutheran Church cemetery near Warren MN.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund https://curealz.org/giving/donate/ or to the Holy Cross Lutheran Church memorial fund.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com . For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.