Olga Figgs

Olga (Theodore) Figgs, 85, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013.

She had been in declining health for the past two years and was a resident of the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland for the past three years.

Born in Trinidad, West Indies, she attended Pampylian Intermediate School and Bishop Anstey's High School. After high school, she served with the local branch of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (A.T.S.), founded by Queen Elizabeth II, as a stenotypist for the Army Education Corps. Olga migrated to New York in 1948 and attended Manhattan's Dental and Assistant's School. She also worked as an aide at King's County Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. It was here where she met her future husband, Tillmon. They were married in 1951 and resided in Brooklyn. Her dream of moving her family to a place where she could own a home with a "white picket fence", a garden and a yard for her children to play became a reality when she moved to Vineland in 1963. During her time in Vineland, she was employed by the city of Vineland (Buildings and Grounds Department) and was a member of the Cumberland County Board of Elections.

Olga was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Church (Divine Mercy) for more than 40 years. She was a Eucharistic minister, a member of the Parish Council and a member of the church choir. She loved to cook and bake and, along with her husband, was an avid gardener and shared with him great pride in their flowers and vegetable garden. She was also an avid reader.

Olga is survived by her sons, Kenneth of Delanco, Keith of Vineland and Tillmon "Tim", Jr. (LaCharla) of Greenbelt, Md.; Warren Brandriff Jr. whom she loved as her "fourth son;" two grandchildren, Andre Figgs and Andressa (Ted) Wainwright; two great-grandchildren, Briana and Makayla Figgs. She is also survived by three brothers, Rudolph "Tom" (Merle) of Trinidad, West Indies, Robert (Kirby) of Brooklyn, N.Y. and Hugh (Margaret) of Miami Beach, Fla.; along with several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Tillmon; her parents, Matthew and Mildred Theodore; two brothers, Oswald and Roland; and three sisters, Ruby Baptiste, Irma and Ann.

A church visitation will be held on Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at 11:15 a.m. from Divine Mercy Parish, 23 W. Chestnut Ave., Vineland. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland.

Arrangements are under the supervision of Rone Funeral Service, 1110 E. Chestnut Ave., Vineland, NJ 08360.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Cumberland County College Foundation, P.O. Box 1500, 3322 College Dr., Vineland, NJ 08362-1500.

To send online condolences, please visit the "Book of Memories" Tributes/Condolences section on the funeral home's website at www.ronefuneralservice.com.