Passed away on June 17, 2018 while resting peacefully at her home in her
100th year. At the end she was very weak from a combination of age related
health issues.
Beloved wife of 76 years to Karel who passed away last year, dearest mother
to Ivan (Penny), Peter (Karen), and Tom (Dana); devoted grandmother to
Katherine (Craig), Rob (Claire), Shane (Jill), Chris, Corey, Michael, Dan (Jade),
David (Vanessa), Nick (Kate), Michelle, Kristina, and Andrew (Erin); and loving
great-grandmother to Emily, Jamie, Grayson, Emma, Ryan, Blair, Charlie,
Oliver, Cole, Will, Elliot, Elle, James, Liam, and Matthew.
Born in Brno, Czechoslovakia on March 28, 1918, Olga met her beloved
husband Karel in 1938 while participating in a cross-county ski race and they
were married in 1941 during the Second World War. Her first son Ivan was born
in 1945, eight months before the end of the war.
After the communists seized power in Czechoslovakia in 1948, Olga escaped
with her husband and two sons, first settling in Switzerland and then
immigrating to Canada in 1949. Olga raised a family that grew to three sons,
twelve grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren and everyone in the
family loved their “Babi”.
Olga was devoted to helping people both inside and outside the family. She
was a volunteer for the Red Cross for many years and also delivered food
for Meals on Wheels. She was active in the Czechoslovak community as Vice-
President of the Czechoslovak Association and was one of the organizers of
the annual Czechoslovak Bazaar. She was recognized by the government of
Czechoslovakia with the prestigious Masaryk award and in 1998, Olga received
the “Gratias agit” award from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech
Republic. The Olga House shelter for homeless women in Montreal and the
Domov Olga, a skill center for people with special needs in the Czech Republic,
are both named after her.
In the book entitled “It all started with Prince Rupert” about the history of
Czechoslovak immigrants in Canada, Josef Cermak wrote: “Olga Velan is a
classy woman. Not only because of her good deeds–and there are a legion-but
even more for the quality of her character.”
The Velan family members all feel a deep sense of loss but at the same time
this is a time to celebrate a great life that spanned 100 years and had a positive
impact on so many people.
The Velan family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Ivan Rohan, Dr. Jan
Schulz and Dee Davidson together with all the Complete Care caregivers who
provided devoted and loving 24/7 care which enabled Olga to live peacefully at
home for her last years.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully received in Olga’s memory
by the Foundation La rue des femmes for the Olga House for homeless women.
There will be a Visitation on Thursday, July 5, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
at the Mount Royal Funeral Complex, 1297 Chemin de la Forêt, Outremont,
Québec H2V 2P9 (tel: 514-279-6540). The funeral will take place on Friday, July
6, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the same location followed by a reception.