Olive Irene Chisholm

Olive Irene Chisholm passed away peacefully on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the age of 95. The beloved wife of the late Leonard Chisholm (2012), Olive was also predeceased by son Colin (2018), son-in-law Don Hartung (2022), and grandson-in-law Cory Wilson (2023).

 

She was the cherished mother and mother-in-law of Alex and Betty Anne Chisholm, Anne Chisholm (late Colin), Virginia and David Caesar, and Leola Hartung, friend Brian Purcell and (late Don), the loving Grandma/Nana of Jack and Crystal Chisholm, Luke and Crystal Hartung, Colleen Caesar and Patrick Rushton, Chantelle Wilson (and the late Cory), Scott Chisholm and Jonielle Wilson, Katie Chisholm, Mallory Caesar, and Ben Hartung and Nathan Flach and the dear great-grandma of Aubrey, Charley, and Andie Jo Chisholm; Blake and Brooke Hartung; Liam and Rhiannon Rushton; Hadley and Tate Wilson; and Lillian, Abigail, and Axel Chisholm. 

 

Olive is survived by sisters-in-law Patricia Payne and Lucille Chisholm.

 

She was predeceased by her parents, James and Beatrice (Reekie) Payne, and brothers and sisters: Harold and Evelyn Payne; Bruce and Rose Payne; Alice and Bob Kiessling; Vivian Stevenson (Norman Read and Ron Stevenson); Verna and Earl Ritcey; Maurice and Helga Payne; Elgin Payne (Rita and Mary); and brothers- and  sister-in-law Ronald Chisholm, Marie and Murray Oke, and Raymond and Patricia Chisholm.

 

Olive graduated from Hamilton Normal School with a Teaching Certificate in 1951, teaching in Malton, Wingham and Cedar Valley (Ashfield Township) schools prior to marrying Leonard on July 2, 1955. She then became a full-time farmer with Len on the Chisholm family farm on the 4th of West Wawanosh. 

 

In spring of 1970, Len and Olive moved to Dungannon after selling the farm. Len commenced working underground at the Goderich salt mine in 1969, and Olive worked at various jobs while wrangling four busy teenagers.

 

In January of 1990, she graduated from Conestoga College as a Level II homecare support worker, and worked for Town and Country Homemakers (now OneCare) for several years until surgery forced her to retire earlier than she wanted. In 2009, Len and Olive downsized to an apartment in Goderich. Olive moved to Goderich Place Retirement Home in March of 2020, then to Maitland Manor/Southbridge nursing home in March of 2023.

 

Olive will be fondly remembered for her beautiful flowers, bountiful vegetable gardens, her talent with a needle for quilting, sewing and mending, and her wonderful baking. All of Mom’s pies were delicious, but the raisin, lemon meringue, pecan and raspberry ones were memorable. Her caring ways and generous spirit will be greatly missed by her family.

 

A private family service with interment at St. Augustine Cemetery, St. Augustine will be held. Donations, if desired, to Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (MRI Fund) or the St. Augustine Cemetery Board would be appreciated by the family as expressions of sympathy.

 

Thank you to all the staff at Maitland Manor/Southbridge for their attentive care of Mom, and Chaplain Amanda Bisson, and McCallum & Palla Funeral Home for their guidance and expertise.