Ilka N. Olivich, adoringly referred to as Dearie, Mother, Mother-in-law, Grandma and Friend to all, passed peacefully at home on January 17, 2017. Ilka was 76 years young. She is survived by her husband, Bill, of 54 years, children Billie (Lu), Chris (Etta), Kim (Dave) and grandchildren Jaclyn, Katie, David, Heidi, Leisa and Danny, Murphy and Scooby.

Ilka’s favorite pastimes were gardening, reading, cooking and enjoying the companionship of her family, friends and neighbors over a cold beer.

She was born in Latvia in 1940. She and her younger brother George, who preceded her in death, came to Michigan in 1951 at the age of 11. In 1963, with but a few credit hours shy of obtaining her degree, she married Bill.

They had three children and with a few extra moves found a place that, with hard work and diligence, would become their dream home in rural Leonard in 1973.

While raising their children, Ilka went back to school, obtained her Bachelors degree and became a certified legal assistant.

She worked for the City of Troy Attorney’s Office for 20 years and then retired at the age of 63.

Upon retirement, she lived up to her heritage and her name, Ilka, which means “hardworking” and created some of the most beautiful gardens.

Some of her greatest pleasures were to share the fruit of her labors with her family, friends and neighbors.

Her kindness, wisdom, generosity, wit and cooking will be sorely missed by all.

A funeral from Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors in Oxford was held Jan. 20.