“Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine”-Isaiah 43:1
Our beloved Mami Olguie was called on to Heaven to be reunited again with the love of her life, Jürgen Paul Fröhlich, our Dad on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. Mami Olguie was born on July 26th, 1930 in Manhattan, New York and grew up in her beloved Puerto Rico. She was the daughter of the late Aurelio Vilá and Ramona Rodriguez.
She returned to the United States to study languages and secondary education at Radford College in Virginia and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Romance Languages. She was fluent in Spanish, English and French. She completed her internship at West Point Academy in New York and went on to teach at Washingtonville High School, also in New York where she was named Teacher of the Year.
She met the love of her life, Jürgen, at a dance between Radford College and Virginia Polytechnic Institute where he was an Aeronautical Engineer student. They immediately fell in love and wrote beautiful love letters to each other while she taught in Washingtonville and he went on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to work on his Master’s Degree.
They married and settled in Tennessee where they had their first daughter Helga Elisabeth. Not long after, they found out that a second baby was coming. After our Dad passed away, very young, our Mami Olguie returned to her parents’ home in Puerto Rico and dedicated her life to caring for us as a single mother.
Mami Olguie loved dancing, music, and poetry. She loved birds and nature. She was always curious about the Universe; an interest she shared with our Dad. She had a strong faith in God and was a member of the Tabernacle UMC for many years.
Mami Olguie adored her family. She was predeceased by her loving husband Jürgen, her parents Aurelio and Ramona, her infant sister Aura Nilda and a stillborn twin brother. She leaves behind her two daughters Helga Elisabeth Jensen (Stephen Jensen), Alma Ramona Rood (Ray Rood Jr.) grandchildren Natasja Harley Lavin (Lucas DeFiores), Roberto Jürgen Jensen and Graciela Ligia Jensen. Also, her sister Alma Lilia Land (Walker H. Land), nieces and nephews, Ramona Land (Terry Bowman), JoAnna Kazalski (Bill Kazalski), Haden Land (Cathy Jo Land), and James Land (Mary Land). Also beloved great-nieces and nephews, Ryan, Evan, Michelle, Kathryn, Kristen, Evan, and Brittany.
The family would like to express their immense gratitude to the staff at Susquehanna Nursing Center where Mami Olguie lived for the past 10 years.
She also volunteered her time at Susquehanna for years prior, and loved it there before becoming a resident, touching the hearts of those who knew her.
Special and wholehearted thanks go to Leith, Tammy and Bonnie for their love, compassion, and support.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 83 Main St. Binghamton, NY 13905.