Olivia Ruth Gittins

Our auntie, dear friend and an England West Country “darlin flower maiden”, passed quietly and peacefully into her new journey with awaiting loved ones.

Olivia Ruth Gittins died Wednesday April 24, 2024, from natural causes incident to age.  Born April 14, 1924, she lived 10 days after her 100th birthday!

Olivia was the daughter of William Lawrence and Esther Maria (Chance) Gittins, and sister to Joyce G. (Melvin W. Dunn), Alvin L. Gittins (Gail J. Olsen), Merrill Gittins, Clive J.R. Gittins, and Florence Elise G. (James Patrick Price). She was preceded in death by all.  Many nieces and nephews survive her.

Her life was filled with opportunities to serve, and work in ways that contributed not only for herself, but in assisting family, in particular her parents who at the belated age of 60 emigrated from Worcestershire, England, to the U.S. in 1947. Because of her father’s age, and although a skilled accountant and bookkeeper, it was the aftermath of WWII and employment was difficult to find, and at age 60, employment was scarce.  Olivia sought for  and found employment at the Relief Society Building at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints headquarters and at a local accountant’s office. She literally became the main catalyst for the family’s purchase of a home in the mid-avenues of Salt Lake City approximately a year after they had immigrated from war-torn England.

Her employment extended to a doctor’s office, while hired to be only a receptionist, she became book keeper, Dr’s assistant, supply manager, secretary, medical technologist, and lab assistant and more, on a meager salary and a “$10” Christmas bonus.

Seeking a more substantial living and increased horizons, she became employed at the Salt Lake Clinic where she made numerous new and lasting friendships. Her English-ness (though she was more “English” than the English themselves!) brought many wonderful people and enriching influences into her life.
 
She volunteered and served at Temple Square as a Tabernacle Usher for many years with the Utah Symphony which added to her life, the rich, sublime cultural influence of classical music, and which brought her tremendous relief and a relief and peace in a deeply troubled world, and which she adored throughout her whole life, and held the renowned late German tenor vocalist, Fritz Wunderlich as one of the “Great Wonders of the World!”

Olivia was blessed with a keenly sharp memory and it was always in constant demonstration until she reached her nineties as friends and families would receive a birthday card on time with the most beautiful handwriting and signature splashed all over them.

While she dealt with the aged effects of growing older, her patience was put to the Abrahamic test, of “enduring to the end”. In spite of major aches and pains which ended up crippling her, and death defying her desires for reuniting with family beyond the veil, she endured and suffered, but throughout it all, she never gave up, or denied her testimony of the power and impact of prayer, Priesthood blessings, and the magnificent and transcendent power and influence of her Savior and redeemer and Light of the world, The Lord Jesus Christ. The only one in the history of the Gittins family clan to have reached the pinnacle of one hundred years on this earth. You did it, dear “Auntie Ol.  And we now revel with you in your graduation and progression into your new surroundings and opportunities.
 
There will be no funeral services or viewing per Olivia’s request. Instead there will be a graveside service at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Graveside services will be streamed live for those who can not attend.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to the services and will be posted below.