Helena Olivier 1908 - 2007

- Kevin Reynolds -

Helena Olivier passed away at Huis Kweekvallei in her 100th year on 29 May 2007.

She was born in Williston on 4 February 1908. After her schooling in Tulbagh, Lenie, as she was affectionately known, qualified as a nursing sister in Cape Town. She married Louis Olivier in 1944 in Pietersburg where she served as matron of the Martha Hofmeyer nursing home for approximately ten years and worked for many years in the Department of Health as the district surgeon’s nursing sister.

In 1977, three years following the death of her husband she moved to Oudtshoorn to marry Pieter, also surnamed Olivier. A couple of years later they settled in Prince Albert where Piet and his son, Herman, purchased the farm Vrisgewaagd.

Piet and Lenie lived in Klip Street until 1998 when failing health forced them to move to Huis Kweekvallei. Piet passed away there in 2003 after being confined to bed for five years.

As the accompanying photograph indicates, taken but two months before her death, Lenie always took pride in her appearance, which the caring staff of Kweekvallei aided in her twilight years.

Lenie leaves an only daughter, Louise, of her first marriage and a stepdaughter, Christa Lategan, and a stepson, Herman Olivier, of her second marriage.