Obituary

Passed away peacefully in mommy and daddy’s arms Friday, June 7th, 2019 at The Hospital for Sick Children, at the age of 5 after a long battle with kidney & liver disease. Olivia touched the lives of so many, our beloved happy girl, light of our lives, and the star of our hearts. She leaves us smiling through tears & pure joy. Mommy and Daddy will forever miss you, until we meet again. Despite Olivia’s difficult battle she was an incredibly happy little girl who will be sorrowfully missed by the many people she met.  Her family will miss her tremendously: Grandma Susan, Grandma Merilou, Grandpa Bill, Aunt Jenn, Uncle Steve, Uncle Brandon, Aunt Vanessa, Uncle Brent; her cousins Isabelle, Ben, Mya, Emmett, Zoe & Ella and her many friends who she always made smile. Especially Weston, who she will meet again in heaven. The numerous doctors, nurses & support staff in wards 6A, 6B, 4C, PICU & the ER who have helped Olivia fight so hard, who have been our family during this long stay at The Hospital for Sick Children. The liver transplant team, the nephrology & kidney transplant team, the home dialysis nurses, hemodialysis nurses along with the liver, kidney, & nephrology teams, nurses & doctors at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Physiotherapists & Occupational Therapist Emma, Catherine, Stephanie, Alaine who pushed Olivia to move and walk & got her there! Her teacher Stacey who taught her to read, her speech therapist Liz who got her to speak loudly in sentences, her music therapist, Caroline who she loved to sing ‘Baby Beluga’  & ‘Happy Birthday’ with, her art therapist Jen, who she enjoyed creating art with her favourite therapeutic clown A. Leboo, who always read the Pigeon books to in story time and sang, ‘Rolly Polly’ to, even jumping into the therapy pool for, Soleil who made her ‘sparkle’.  The Child Life team, especially Jane who worked hard making this time special and manageable. The numerous volunteers that Olivia loved playing with.  Olivia’s retreat away from the ward were Marnie’s Lounge where she always had to play with yellow Playdoh & make yellow slime, Marnie’s Studio to watch live shows with A. Leboo, Soleil & Rachel & the Samsung space.  You all made this difficult path truly memorable & special. A ‘Celebration of Life’ is what Olivia would have wanted in the place that gave her an incredibly amount comfort and joy.  A time to reflect on the beautiful little girl she was.  Guests are more than welcome to wear her favourite colour yellow.  Thursday, June 13th2019,The Hospital for Sick Children. Family & guests to arrive in the Rotunda at 10:00am. At 10:30 the Celebration of Life will take place down the hall in the Hollywood Theatre Room 1246, just down the hall from the Rotunda. A reception will follow back in the Rotunda. In Lieu of flowers, gifts in Olivia’s Honour may be made to the Sick Kids Foundation. As thoughtful as floral tributes are, the hospital is a scent-free zone and cannot accept live flowers.

Visitation

Service

Date
June 13, 2019
Location
SickKids - Hollywood Theatre Room 1246
Time
10:30 AM
Memo

Guests are welcome to wear Olivia's favourite colour yellow. Please arrive early at 10 A.M. in the Rotunda

Cremation

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June 18, 2019
Anonymous
I won’t pretend to know Olivia intimately, however, as a volunteer on 6A for the past five years I have absolutely gotten to know Olivia (and mom) and Olivia - happy, sassy, darling Olivia - has without question left her mark. Having recently finished a research Master’s at sickkids, I will now be beginning medical school in the fall and it is the experiences and stories of Olivia (and patients like her) that I will be taking with me into this next chapter. Olivia taught me the power of a smile, showing me just how far optimism and a happy disposition can take you and how completely it flips the experience of being a sick child. Olivia also taught me how important it is to see the person behind the illness. Olivia was so much more than the specifics of her medical illness. She was a happy little girl who wanted to laugh and play - whether it was showing off to the nurses in the hallways or playing doctor and putting a fake IV into her volunteer’s arm. I will hold the memories of Olivia’s unparalleled strength close to my heart as I begin my medical training and use the lessons she has taught me to help make me a better physician. I will forever cherish the time I was able to spend with your daughter. Thank you for sharing her with the rest of us - she was truly one of a kind.
June 14, 2019
Bill Boutilier
I'm so sorry for your loss. I never had the privilege to meet Olivia. But every day at work, Isaac would tell me how she was doing,and what she was up to. What a very special little one. You are now in Heaven, Fly little Angel Fly.
June 13, 2019
Gail Clapperton
Merilou, So sorry for your loss. She is an angel in heaven now.My sympathy to your son and his wife.
June 13, 2019
Zahra Zaidi
The cutest little girl who has and will always shine bright!
June 13, 2019
Susan & Bryan Keizerwaard
sending our heartfelt sympathies to your family. Olivia was a special angel.
June 12, 2019
Joan colon
Olivia will always be remembered for her bravery and her smiling spirit. Rest In Peace little angel. May God guide you thru your grief.
June 12, 2019
Monika Colmorgen
Tomorrow, June 13th is my birthday and for some strange reason...I bought every decoration in yellow. Who knew! Even yellow balloons with smiley faces on them. See...I will be there in Spirit and in Celebration. I'm sure the place will be packed for all that came to know about Olivia's incredibly brave journey. She will be remembered forever. God Bless.