Olga Zaldivar Birchmier

1961 - 2010

Olga Zaldivar, loving mother of Tara, Amanda, and Robert, and wonderful and loving grandmother of Ethan, Isaiah, Isabelle, Sofia and Justin, walked with the angels into our Heavenly Father's arms on July 19, 2010, after her long battle with systemic lupus. Olga passed away surrounded by her family, including her parents, her many brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends, who despite their own sorrow and grief, stayed with her as she left this earth for a more peaceful and beautiful place where she is no longer in pain.

Olga began her life on February 27, 1961 in Gilroy CA., where she lived, worked, and raised her family. She attended St. Mary's elementary school, then Notre Dame High School in Salinas, CA. and attended Evergreen College. Olga was married in 1982, and had three children, who were always her priority, and she provided a loving and caring home, despite her many challenges. Olga was the life of any party, instantly making her presence known, and she was always one to have a story for every situation, often making all around her laugh and smile. In 1995, while her children were still young, she was diagnosed with systemic lupus, which is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that affected her skin, joints and vital organs. Olga struggled from that point, fighting to keep her disease at a manageable level, while still keeping her family her number one priority. Throughout her years of pain, hurt, and frustration, she NEVER complained and never wallowed in her situation. She put on a brave face and moved forward, never looking back.

Olga is survived by her children and their spouses or partners, Tara and Scott, Amanda and Anthony, and Robert and Amanda; her grandchildren, Ethan, Isaiah, Isabelle, and twins Sofia and Justin; her parents, Francisco and Rosa; her siblings and their spouses, Aida and Lyle Perez, Irma and Sam Altamirano, Frank and Tracey Zaldivar, Javier and Alma Zaldivar, Raul and Jennifer Zaldivar; and Danny Zaldivar and many others who loved and valued her personality and friendship.

Her viewing will be held at the Habing Family Funeral Home in Gilroy on Thursday, 7/22/10 from 4 - 7pm. The rosary will be at 7:30pm that same day. Her requiem mass will be on Friday, 7/23/10 at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 11am. Donations in her name can be made to the Bay Area Lupus Foundation, www.lfnc.org.

Olga will forever live in our hear