Olivia Petrell Kissin

09/26/1917 - 03/28/2011

KISSIN, Olivia Petrell
(Age 93)

Died in her home on March 28. Born September 26, 1917, in Fairbanks, Minnesota, to Finnish immigrant parents, Henry Jalmar Petrell and Siiri Levander Petrell. Olivia, a long-time Spokane resident, moved with her beloved husband and eternal best friend, Jerry(Gerald H. Kissin, died, June 10, 1993), to Spokane in 1950. Their hearts were always here until the end of their days. Olivia loved to be outside in fresh air. She also loved the company of her fellow Spokanites. Always an active member of her church, as an officer in the League of Women Voters, the String Instrument League, Scouting, the Finlandia organization, a life-long supporter of Spokane arts and culture, Olivia was intensely interested in local history, native cultures, the birds and plants of the region, gardening, fishing, and lawn bowling. Two of her favorite spots were Banks Lake and the Bowl and Pitcher. Olivia took up golf later in life, and thrived on Spokane's municipal courses. With a M.A. Degree in Library Science, University of Michigan, where she met her husband and they were married on February 1, 1941 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Olivia devoted herself to her family of four boys, her surviving sons, Stephen, Michael, Roy, and her beloved son, Peter, who preceded her in death, all raised in Spokane. Her two surviving brothers, Wilfred and Edgar Petrell in Minnesota, her six grandchildren, her devoted nieces and nephews, her countless relatives in Finland, her many friends in Spokane and throughout the region, the spouses of her sons and their families, all miss Olivia, but are grateful she lived a long, hearty, and healthy life. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 7, at 11:00am, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 West Fort George Wright Drive at the corner of Government Way. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Olivia's name to worthy local arts organizations.