Ramona Lee Ollila

Ramona Lee Kittrell Ollila, 95, of Loveland, Colorado, passed away on October 6, 2026. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse, and friend, Ramona lived a life marked by faith, generosity, resilience, and a genuine love for people. She will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, welcoming home, and the many ways she brought kindness and joy into the lives of others.

Born May 31, 1931, in Flint, Michigan, Ramona grew up with her mother, Gladys Kittrell, and her five siblings: Melvin, Edwin, Daniel, James (“Jimmy”), and Ruth. She attended Adelphian Academy in Holly, Michigan, but left school to help support her family. She worked at the Harris Pine woodworking mill and later became a nurse in 1954, a profession that reflected her compassionate nature and lifelong desire to care for others.

On November 16, 1952, Ramona married Ralph Raymond Ollila in Ferndale, Michigan. Their marriage of nearly 62 years was marked by love, devotion, and shared adventures. Together they raised their two children, Donald and Dianna, and made their home in Michigan before moving to Loveland, Colorado, in 1974.

Ramona embraced life with enthusiasm. She loved camping, traveling, snow skiing, and water skiing with her family. She also enjoyed life's quieter pleasures: tending flowers, watching birds from her patio swing, and welcoming friends and family into her home. Her Sabbath dinners were especially memorable, and she delighted in gathering people around her table.

A lifelong Seventh-day Adventist Christian, Ramona expressed her faith through practical acts of kindness. She volunteered at Campion Academy and Sierra Vista Nursing Home, participated in church outreach, and found special joy in knitting baby booties for expectant mothers. She carried these handmade gifts with her, offering them to women she encountered in stores and restaurants. Some recipients were moved to tears by her unexpected generosity. For Ramona, even the smallest gesture was an opportunity to share God's love.

Throughout her life, Ramona experienced profound personal losses and significant health challenges. She had hoped for a large family, and although she and Ralph were blessed with Donald and Dianna, she also endured the heartbreak of seven miscarriages. She faced breast cancer, numerous surgeries, and other health difficulties with remarkable determination and faith. Yet through these experiences, her love for children and her compassion for others remained central to who she was. She found particular joy in welcoming babies, caring for families, and making others feel loved and included.

Ramona was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ralph Raymond Ollila, who passed away on July 27, 2014; her daughter, Dianna Steffenson; and her brothers, Melvin, Edwin, Daniel, and James (“Jimmy”) Kittrell, the latter of whom passed away in early childhood.

She is lovingly remembered by her son, Donald LeRoy Ollila (Cecelia); her four grandchildren, Eric Ollila (Lucy), Zachary Steffenson (Lauren), Rudolph Herrera III, and Michael Herrera (Lauren); and her five great-grandchildren, Agnes Ollila, Lief Steffenson, Rudolph Herrera IV, Michael Herrera Jr., and Matthew Herrera.

Ramona is also lovingly remembered by her sister, Ruth Bradfield of Michigan, Ruth's children and their families, and the families of her late brothers. She cherished the bonds she shared with her extended family across generations, including the nieces, nephews, and their children who visited from near and far. Her life was also enriched by dear friends, neighbors, church family, and the many people whose paths crossed hers over the years. Whether through a family gathering, a shared meal, a visit, or a simple act of kindness, each relationship held a place in her life, and her family is grateful to everyone who shared in it.

In preparing for her memorial service, Ramona expressed one simple wish: “I want people to be happy.” Those words reflect the spirit of a woman who found joy in bringing happiness, encouragement, and comfort to others.

Yet Ramona's hope reached beyond the happiness of this life. Her Christian faith sustained her through both joy and sorrow, and she believed that death would not have the final word. She held to the promise of Jesus Christ that those who sleep in Him will rise again at His return. For those who loved Ramona, that promise offers comfort in grief and the hope of a joyful reunion when Christ comes again.

Ramona leaves behind more than memories. Her legacy lives on in the love she shared, the kindness she inspired, and the many lives she touched. Though she will be deeply missed, her family and friends look forward in faith to the day when sorrow and separation will give way to resurrection and reunion.

A celebration of Ramona's life will be held Sunday, October 25, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the Fort Collins Seventh-day Adventist Church in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Lovingly remembered, deeply missed, and held in the hope of Christ's return.