In Loving Memory of

Olga Thelwell McDonald

June 08, 1934 – July 31, 2026

Olga Thelwell McDonald was born Olga Maud Thelwell on June 08, 1934, to Gerald Thelwell and Eleanor Johnson in the St. James Parish of Montego Bay, Jamaica, W.I. She was the eldest of four children born to Eleanor Johnson.

She leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish her memory: her five children – Wayne, Sandra, Sharon, David, and Marcia; her eight grandchildren – Jamal, Wayne Jr, Omar, Kevyn, Malik, Sebastien, Dominick, and Jamila; and her three great grandchildren – Malina, Bryce, and Omar, Jr.

Olga immigrated to the United States in the late 1960’s. She embraced the many cultures and people she encountered while never forgetting her roots. She remained a proud Jamaican throughout her life. She deeply loved America and was grateful for the opportunities that her hard work afforded her – opportunities she often believed would not have been possible back home. She would always say, “God bless America with all her flaws.”

Olga was a talented dressmaker and designer. She loved her craft. She was always sketching and drawing designs and pinning them on her board above her sewing machine. She loved the high-end couture fashion magazines from where she drew a lot of her inspiration. She designed and sewed haute couture dresses, and evening gowns were her favorite. This was her passion and her gift from God.

Olga believed in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her bible was always by her bedside, and every night she faithfully prayed for all her children. She spoke her mind without hesitation, believing honesty was an act of kindness. You quickly learned to develop a thick skin because she never sugarcoated the truth – but her words were never spoken with malice. Despite the hardships she endured throughout her life, Olga refused to hold on to bitterness. She forgave freely, carried no hatred in her heart, and extended grace to others with remarkable strength.

Olga was an extremely hardworking woman, often spending seven days a week behind her sewing machine to provide for her family and build a better life for those she loved. She was fiercely independent, dignified, and proud. An avid reader and a passionate advocate for education, she believed knowledge opened doors. She carried herself with elegance and class, always impeccably dressed, reflecting the grace and confidence that defined her character.

Now that Olga has transitioned on to eternal life with her Lord and Savior, her family finds comfort in knowing she has been joyfully reunited with her beloved mother, Eleanor, and her siblings, Franky, Beryl, and Doc. Her family is at peace knowing that she is finally at rest and free from pain.

Her spirit lives on through her descendants and all whose lives she touched with her strength, faith, generosity, and love. Her work on this earth is done. She has joined the angels in heaven above and watches over all her children. Although she will be greatly missed, she will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.