Siverling, Olive Calista 1873-1965

SIVERLING, HENRY, LEWIS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/20/2012 at 09:01:14

The Montezuma (IA) Republican; Dec. 2, 1965

OLIVE SIVERLING FUNERAL HELD MONDAY AFTERNOON

The funeral of Olive Siverling was held Monday afternoon, Nov. 29, at the Steffy Funeral Home. The Rev. Robert Gamble conducted the service with Mrs. Vincent Johnson as soloist accompanied by Miss Alice Underwood, organist.

Interment was in Masonic-IOOF Cemetery with Carl Coffey, Blair Brooks, Harold Bryan, Harold Swanson, Harold Lofgreen and James McIlrath as casket bearers.

Olive Calista, daughter of A.B. and Addie Henry Siverling, was born in Venango County, Pa., on Aug. 20, 1873, and died at the Mahaska Hospital, Oskaloosa, on Nov. 27. She was 92.

When she was about eight years old her mother died and her father later married Susie A. Lewis, who became a devoted mother to Olive and her younger brother, Earl.

She completed high school after the family moved to Gibson City, Ill. She began her long teaching career in a country school near her home for one year. She next taught for a few years in the elementary school in Wheaton, Ill., before going to Chicago. After teaching there for several years she attended the Chicago Art Institute and became an Art Supervisor in the Chicago elementary school system.

Olive's hobbies were traveling and painting. She retired from teaching in 1938 and continued to live in Chicago for a few years, working in the art division of the Works Projects Administration.

In about 1940 she came to Montezuma to live with her mother. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the P.E.O. for more than 50 years. She was active in the Study Club and Justamere Club and was a life-long member of the Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, and her brother, Dr. G.E. Siverling.

She is survived by several cousins, including Miss Pearl Lewis, who has cared for her the past five years.