Marcelina Olsen's Obituary
Life Beginnings Worlds Apart
Mabuhay Marcelina! Life started out for Marcelina Del Rosario in 1924, in the Cagayan Valley in the Philippines. She remained there throughout a happy childhood spent within the embrace of a large, loving family.
Across the ocean in the Seattle, Washington suburb of Ballard, Edwin Olsen arrived just a few short years later. Edwin’s ancestors were from Norway and his family honored the best of Norwegian traditions and American culture.
It would be sixty-seven years before life’s magic would bring the two together.
All Our Children
When her father Severino passed away in 1944, Marcelina went to live with other family members in Manila. It was there that she met her first beau, Sergeant Young, and gave birth to her first daughter, Erlinda. Fate and WWII intervened before they could marry, and Sergeant Young was replaced by the man who would become Marcelina’s husband of close to twenty years. Mr. and Mrs. Andrade quickly became the parents of eight more beautiful children: Luzviminda, Rolando, Mercedes, Myrna, Evangeline, Rudolfo, Olivia and Milton.
Marcelina’s home was open and welcoming to everyone. Her children remember the pleasure she took in shopping for food and creating large meals for the fifteen resident-household. She loved to entertain and celebrate with family and friends. Sadly, her marriage ended in separation and she continued to raise her children, who themselves started to venture to new places to start their own lives. One daughter moved to the US, and Marcelina followed them to New York in 1988. She was welcomed into her daughter Lucy and son-in-law Walter’s home, and they moved to Tacoma shortly after.
Love of Country
Edwin Olsen grew up into a model patriotic citizen. He joined the US Military and served for many years before an injury forced his medical discharge. He maintained an undying love for his country and proudly saluted his allegiance at every opportunity. Even after his military years ended, he upheld the habit of dressing impeccably, always wearing nice suits when not otherwise attired in a silly costume. He mastered the art of playing the harmonica and enjoyed entertaining others with his talents. He liked to garden and he did enjoy fishing though did not have too much success at it.
The Seniors’ Centers: Social Mecca
It was the love of a party, excitement of day trips, and the convenience of a shuttle bus that combined to bring Marcelina and Edwin together. They met in 1990 when Marcelina was volunteering in a seniors’ home and Ed attended an event. They hit it off immediately: two sharp dressers who loved to celebrate and dance got married in 1994. They shared a zest for life and a fun, sometimes silly, sense of humor. Their marriage at City Hall was followed by a church ceremony and a big party at the seniors’ center.
Edwin and Marcelina made the circuit of different seniors’ centers, from the Lighthouse Activity Center to the Samoan and Polynesian assemblies. They rode that shuttle bus every day and went on many organized excursions and day trips. And how they loved to dance! They could really cut a rug on the dance floor doing the Macarena, the Chicken Dance or line dancing. Afterwards, nothing hit the spot better than a dinner at the Old Country Buffet.
So Much to Celebrate
To the joy of Marcelina’s nine children, Ed gladly and proudly took on the role of loving step-father. Every Saturday without fail, the family would gather at Lucy’s home for a sumptuous meal. Lucy and Marcelina would prepare some of their favorite Filipino dishes like lumpia, chicken and pork adobo and stir-fries. To satisfy the variety of appetites American staples like steak and barbecue and especially traditional turkey meals for the holidays were equally important.
Holidays were a big deal for the Olsens. They loved to dress up in themed costumes to mark them whether Ed was in a Leprechaun suit on St. Patrick’s Day or Marcelina wore her vibrant colors and fancy hats. The event of Marcelina’s US Citizenship in 1998 was an especially proud and happy celebration for both of them.
Travel was another interest they shared. They were thrilled to return to the Philippines to visit family as well as Germany to visit daughters Mercedes and Erlinda. Local trips and adventures were just as exciting, decked out in their RV and snapping photos to remember their trips to Puget Sound, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helen’s and Kalaloch Beach.
The Spirit Lives On
Religion was important to the Olsens, and they shared a devotion to the Mormon Church. Throughout her life, Marcelina experienced a spiritual journey that led her from her Catholic roots to the Mormon Church to the Iglesio de Christo and back to the Mormons and Latter Day Saints. Their congregation was there to support the family when Edwin was left to grieve the sudden passing of Marcelina in 2008. Heavy of heart, Edwin sought solace in friends, Church and family. He was happy to reconnect with a niece in Norway and thoroughly enjoyed a trip to his ancestral home with Lucy in 2010.
Edwin’s own health issues began to interfere, however, between his military injury, heart weakness and a car accident injury. While in Alaska,in garden rehab he fell ill and passed away in Madigan hospital.
The occasions of their passing were grieved by many people in many parts of the world. Their nine children and their families are left to carry on their legacy of love, adventure and faith. Edwin and Marcelina would have liked to think that many celebrations took place in honor of their lives.
What’s your fondest memory of Marcelina?
What’s a lesson you learned from Marcelina?
Share a story where Marcelina's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Marcelina you’ll never forget.
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