Olive Irene Chisholm passed away peacefully on Friday April 17, 2026, at the age of 95. Beloved wife of the late Leonard Chisholm (2012). Also predeceased by son Colin (2018), son-in-law Don Hartung (2022), and grandson-in-law Cory Wilson (2023).
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). Loving Grandma/Nana of Jack and Crystal Chisholm, Luke and Crystal Hartung, Colleen Caesar and Patrick Rushton, Chantelle Wilson (late Cory), Scott Chisholm and Jonielle Wilson, Katie Chisholm, Mallory Caesar, and Ben Hartung and Nathan Flach. 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. Survived by sisters-in-law Patricia Payne and Lucille Chisholm.
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-in-law and sister-in-law Ronald Chisholm, Marie and Murray Oke, Raymond and Patricia Chisholm.
Olive graduated from Hamilton Normal School with a Teaching Certificate in 1951, and taught in Malton, Wingham, and Cedar Valley (Ashfield Twp) 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 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 1990 she graduated from Conestoga College as a Level II Homecare support worker, and worked for Town and Country Homemakers (now One Care) 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 2020, then to Maitland Manor/Southbridge nursing home in March 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.
Private family service with internment at St. Augustine Cemetery, St. Augustine, Ontario. Donations, if desired, to Alexandra Marine & General Hospital – MRI Fund, or St. Augustine Cemetery Board.
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.
