Kathleen “Kathy” Olsen

Kathleen "Kathy" Olsen
Kathleen “Kathy” Olsen

Kathleen “Kathy” Olsen of Amarillo, TX was a caring daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend. She left this world on May 22, 2021 at age 44.

Services will be at 1:30 P.M., Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

She was the first child born to John and Helen Olsen on October 8, 1976 in Staten Island, NY. If you knew Kathy, she was not blessed with patience right from the start of life. She rushed into the world three months early as a preemie weighing only 3lbs 2oz and 15 inches long, she fit into the palm of her father’s hand. What she lacked in patience, she made up for with fierce persistent bravery and survived against many odds.

She thrived to become a big sister to John Michael and Stacey. She took her job seriously as a big sister, she made sure to wait and collect both John and Stacey before getting on the bus. She made them sit oldest to youngest on the school bus every single day of elementary school revealing her first signs of OCD behavior. Nor John or Stacey were never ever allowed to sit in the more comfortable aisle seat.

The relationship she had with her brother and sister was rowdy, wild, joyous, festive and most of all noisy. The Three Amigos fought hard but loved harder.  She was an incredible spirited teenager. She went through a ‘grunge’ phase and wore torn jeans, flannel shirts, and combat boots daily. Her greatest wish came true on a rainy day in Georgia at the age of 16, when her Dad bought her a convertible for her first car. The 1986 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible was black on black and looked amazing in the rain. The next morning revealed the real glory of Kathy’s LeBaron, it showed major signs of paint damage and taught all of us Olsen’s an important life lesson, to never buy a car in the rain.  Despite its faults it had a loud radio and incredibly spacious interior. It only slightly leaked in the rain and that only encouraged Kathy’s hot-tempered impulsive passionate teenage attitude. Through no fault of her own the LeBaron turbo went out, allowing her parents to know if she was skipping school because the black billowing smoke rose to the heavens and was visible from a five-mile radius.

Kathy suffered a traumatic injury after falling from a bridge at the young age of 20 where she became paralyzed.  Although she lost the use of her legs, she was determined to heal and find a new way forward. She worked incredibly hard to heal with grace and strength after the hardship life dealt her. She went on to get her master’s degree in Psychology and all her certifications to become a traumatic injury counselor. Her wish was to help others impacted by injury.

She had a great sense of pride in keeping her home clean and driving independently in her adult life. She enjoyed family meals with excessive leftovers, summer nights, boisterous laughter, great music, movies, and she was one of the earth’s greatest animal lovers, except for skunks. She hated skunks, after her beloved dog Annie was sprayed no less than 3 times last year. She was not a fan of skunks.

She is survived by her parents, Helen and John Olsen; her brother, John Michael and his wife Brianna Olsen; and her sister, Stacey and husband Allen Rushing. Kathy’s greatest joy in life was being Titi to John Alexander, Liam Conner, Scarlett Olsen and Gabriella and Olivia Rushing. Kathy had incredible aunts and uncles, Patricia and Stan Olsen, Christine and John Apollo, and Judy Caballero. Her first cousins are Stan and wife Vanessa Olsen, Kelly Olsen, Jackie and husband Andrew Mroszczak, Elizabeth Felix, Nicole and husband Frank Anthony, John Apollo, Irene and husband Lazaro Castillo, Rita and husband Jamal Bernard, Lori and husband Nick Crowe, Jennifer and husband Craig Taddonio, and Melissa and husband Robert Scalera. Her second cousins are Michael Mroszczak, Maya Mroszczak, Lillian Felix, Kristopher Cabellero, Johnny and Gino Pabon, Kamry, Stephanie, Jamaal Jr., Liam and Maali Bernard, Rosalie and Delaney Crowe, CJ Taddonio, and Charlotte Scalera.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Beatrice and John Olsen, and Rita and Israel Rivera; her uncle, Richard Olsen; her uncle, Jerry Caballero; and her second cousin and sweet angel in heaven, Lyla Faith Crowe.

Viewing will be available from 8:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home.

 

 

 

6 Replies to “Kathleen “Kathy” Olsen”

  1. My funky, groovy, sweet soul sister Kathy. We bonded over music and Supernatural. Our song will forever be Carry On Wayward Son. Thank you for seeing me through the times I was almost lost in the darkness. Your light shined and showed me the way. Your loss hit me too hard for words at first, but I knew I needed to share what you were to me. I love you and we will dance together soon!

  2. Dear Kathy, I know you are free. Free to run, jump, amd fly. You made my career choice a little better. You are inspiration to us all in medical field. Love you. Miss you. Know without a shadow of a doubt you’re in a better place. Praying for your family.

  3. To the Rushing Family,
    Kathy was such an awesome person. I remember when Clint took m up to meet you all over three years ago. I remember I was so nervous meeting everyone. But I knew Allen because him and I went to high school together and little did I know that him and Clint knew each other. And of course Clint and I have known each other since we were babies. But when we arrived I remember Helen, Stacey and the girls were all out shopping for some gloves and some other items when we arrived. And I remember Kathy coming to the house and rolled in her wheelchair and greeted me with all smiles and all. I pulled my hand out to shake hers and introduce myself and all I “remember” was she told looked and me and said “girl get over here and give me a hug & kiss your family”! She welcomed me along with the rest of the family and I had never felt so loved and warmth with this family or with anybody for that matter. Kathy was just always smiling, laughing and had jokes. I loved her so much as if she were my own sister. She was truly an amazing person. Kathy you are going to be dearly missed but I know that “God” needed you more then we did but we just were not ready to let you go yet. My heart is aching and I can’t imaging what your family is going through but I will say a prayer for them all and I hope you fly high girl with your beautiful wings up above with all the angels and watch over all of us as we all grieve that your no longer here with us. Until then we then we will met again over the heavenly gates. I love you Kathleen and will never forget your beautiful smile and laughter. Dance away Kathy, dance away….

  4. I remember the first year I met Kathy. We were freshman in high school. We instantly hit it off. It was always Kathy & Heather. She was my Kata-Rita and I was her Heata-Rita. I remember the Subaru like yesterday. Blasting music and dancing. She was so damn funny and such a firecracker. My family knew we could be trouble at times but she was like a family member. My mom and Candace always bring up the time we were almost 20. We went to an underage drinking party and the cops came. Kathy said “no Heather don’t run” as everyone else did. We were taken to a holding cell and charged with underage drinking. My mom and Candace said “you should have ran, you were almost the drinking age”. We always laugh about that. She can out run anyone now. I love her so much. She is now shining down smiling at all of us. Until we meet again sister.

  5. Kathy was a spunky, darling curly headed daughter I never had. She was always a ball of energy that would light up a room on the darkest days. I loved her and am blessed beyond words that she was a huge part of my life when we were in Georgia. Fly high sweet girl. Heartbroken in NC, Beth Morrow

  6. She will be missed! She was a bright light in my life. She would tell me she loved me every time we spoke or saw each other. She made me a better person! I love you Kathy!!! ❤️💕❤️
    Dance like you did when we were young and sneaking into clubs. Run like we did to jump into my parent’s station wagon after football games. Laugh like we did so many times hanging out at Heather’s apartment or the night you guys slept over and we played truth or dare.
    We will dance, run and laugh together again!

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