Phyllis Ann Olsta

Phyllis Ann Olsta
A wonderful, happy, delightful life
Phyllis Ann Olsta went to be with her Heavenly Father on Monday, October 6, 2025, at the age of 92. She was born on July 31, 1933, in Joliet, IL. Phyllis was a graduate of St. Francis Academy (now JCA) with the Class of 1951. She is survived by numerous and a raft of friends in the Juneau, Alaska, Portland, Oregon, and Chicago land area.
Phyllis grew up in Joliet, Illinois, the only child of Joe and Ann (nee Kwarta) Olsta. She had a happy childhood, attending St. Francis Academy, and going on to receive an Associate Degree of Liberal Arts, which helped Phyllis to achieve her dreams. At that time, a girl with 2 years of college had an edge over others. And she was motivated. "I was always career-minded," recalled Phyllis. "I wanted to see what was beyond Joliet." The degree, she admitted, opened doors for her that might have been otherwise closed. She was able to land a desk job as a clerk at US Rubber Corporation. But secretly, her dream was to skate- just like Sonja Henie.
In 1958, she landed a job with a traveling troupe of ice skaters known as the "Ice Varieties". She wore elaborate costumes decorated with feathers, sequins, and short skirts. Phyllis compared it to being in a chorus line. It was lots of fun, but for Phyllis, the lifestyle limited her ability to see the world the way she wanted to. "You basically had no life," she recalled. "You'd stay in a hotel. But you'd get up in the morning, do a matinee show, then get on the bus and travel to the next city. That wasn't for me."
In 1960, the opportunity to travel presented itself. She began working as a hostess on the California Zephyr, the train that cuts through the Colorado Rockies. Her job was to make guests' dinner reservations, make PA announcements, and help travelers with their various needs. Phyllis made a positive impression on many people because of her exuberant personality, outgoing nature, and incredible attention to detail. In the late 60s, Phyllis met someone who told her she'd be a perfect fit doing the same job- aboard a cruise ship. That person happened to be related to the owner of Matson Lines, which was once a cruise line, but now exists as a shipping company.
As a cruise hostess for Matson Lines, Phyllis began to achieve her dream of seeing the world. The route took her between the South Island group, Honolulu, Papatoetoe, Bora Bora, and other parts of New Zealand, among other destinations. She did the same duties as her other jobs, along with organizing activities and keeping the passengers happy. She would arrange arts and crafts projects, amuse old ladies, converse with passengers, and attend to their needs, all while wearing a smile. She wore an evening gown at dinner every night, leading her father to think she led a life of glamour and ease. One time, her father traveled on one of the cruises and observed her in action, which opened his eyes to the complexity of her job. "I never dreamed you worked so hard!" he said. According to Phyllis, he must have visualized her lying by the pool and polishing her nails. He didn't realize the many hats she wore. The passenger service for Matson lines was discontinued about the time her father passed in 1978, and Phyllis had taken some time to care for her father while he was ill.
In 1979, Phyllis rented out her parents' house in Joliet and worked as a purser for Delta Lines Ferry Service, ferrying passengers from Alameda, California, to South America. At the time, Phyllis was living in Alameda with a roommate.
Always a hard worker, in 1981, Phyllis had an epiphany. She wanted to help others. Her desire to volunteer was the catalyst that took her to Alaska. On a whim, she took a bus from Alameda, California, to Fairbanks, Alaska, to volunteer for the Monroe Foundation, a non-profit that supports Catholic education. It was a 5-day journey, and she saw some marvelous sights in Whitehorse-Yukon territory. "Fairbanks is about as far north as you can go," recalled Phyllis. As a volunteer for the Monroe Foundation, she arranged for donations and solicited funds for the religious organization. She was happy in Alaska. Her roommate in Alameda, CA, had passed away, and she heard that the state of Alaska was paying well. "When the Lord closes a door, he opens a window," said Phyllis. She procured a job with the Alaska Marine Highway system, working on a small 400-passenger ferry named the Taku (all the ferries are named after glaciers). Her duties were much different than the glamorous jobs she had in the past, but she was good at them all the same. She worked in the gift shop, bartended, she made beds. She was a "Jill of all trades" aboard the ship.
In 1987, Phyllis's aunt Buddy had passed away, leaving her a small home in Portland, Oregon. Phyllis kept her apartment in Juneau, traveled back and forth, and volunteered in both cities.
Phyllis continued to work for the Alaska Marine Highway system until 1996. She continued to keep her apartment for many years, along with the home in Portland. In her final years, she continued to live in Portland by herself and was remarkably self-sufficient. Phyllis liked to talk on the phone, and she stayed connected with her friends, including her contacts in Joliet, Illinois. She was generous to her friends and family and was committed to supporting many worthy causes.
Looking back on her life, Phyllis had no regrets. She was a single woman who achieved all of her dreams- on her own, as a single woman of faith. She is someone we can all look up to and admire.
"I've lived a wonderful, happy, delightful life!" she said.
Funeral Services for Phyllis Ann Olsta will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd., Joliet, IL, from 9:00 a.m. to Holy Cross Catholic Church, 830 Elizabeth St, Joliet, where a Mass of Christian of Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to either Joliet Catholic Academy or The Sisters of St. Francis.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute page at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.