Louise Olson

My mother passed away onTuesday, 8 September at the venerable age of 88 after suffering a severe and sudden gall bladder infection which put her in the hospital on Friday, 4th September. 
She had a strong faith and tremendous courage and made decisions easy for me because she had made her wishes clear in a living will (US) and advanced directive (HK). She reminded me of my promise to her often to follow through on these. The hospital managed her pain well. I was able to be with her throughout this process and believe we did it her way. We have had four extra years with her in Hong Kong as a family - and for that I am very grateful. 
Family and friends from around the world sent e-mails, messages, called (I would hold the phone up to her ear because even when she couldn't respond she could hear us) and shared Bible verses and songs they would like me to 'give' to her. Thanks to all of those within this group who were a part of that. Meanwhile, those from my LPC UWC HK community visited her. She is/was the whole College's Grandma and continued to touch the lives of staff, students, and caregivers here with her optimism and affection. 
I was singing one of my Dad's songs, "Kule Mbinguni Nataka Kwenda / To Go to Heaven My Heart is Longing" to her at the exact moment of her death. She loved that song, and my Dad was with us with each song from 'Set Free' that I sang (albeit badly) to her from this and the Lutheran hymnal. 
For those who would like to know something about my Mom - the 139th Psalm is her favorite. Please read it out loud (minus verses 19-22). Please put special emphasis on 'When I awake, I am with thee'. These were the words my parents chose to put on their firstborn's gravestone. Now my father and brother Howard J. Olson's ashes are there together with Gary in Kinampanda - and I will take my Mom's ashes both there and to the US in due course...
The other poem I particularly love which captures what my Mom taught us is 1st Corinthians 13. After the tragic death of our brother, Gary Marcus, Mom and Dad adopted all four of us children - Howard J. Olson, Sharon Olson, Timothy Olson, and Linda Olson - grafting a family together - and keeping it together despite the many trials and tribulations (as well as joys, of course) that we brought them along the way. I promised Mom she could let go - we will take care of each other. 
My mother was a teacher - both in the classroom and out of it. She has touched so many lives - and was instrumental, with my father, in women being ordained in the Lutheran Church in Tanzania. She was a feminist - in the best sense of the word. Fiercely gentle, amazingly strong, always loving, energetic. Her life was much reduced in her latter years due to Parkinson's, but even that - she fought to the end through exercise of both body and mind. She maintained relationships near and far through e-mails, on FB (!), and in phone calls. 
We children and grandchildren were not ready for her to go, but she was. On Saturday, she told the Chaplain at the hospital she was ready to go 'Home', something she had been warning us she would be doing for some time. Always gently preparing us for the next stage of our lives. Always our Mom.
My Mom's favorite prayer is/was, "For all that has been -- Thanks. For all that shall be -- Yes." (Dag Hammarskjöld).

Frankly. may not have enough words to say what I want to say about Louise. She was a wonderful person and good teacher who taught students' wivies at Makumira Theological College.She sang and played the organ with the students' choir .
At Kijota Lutheran Church, Louise taught sunday school and both her and her husband Howard were instrumental ni making sure that the church building at Kijota was started and complited in 1954. They served their Lord well.