Olga Schwede

Olga Schwede of Great Barrington, passed away peacefully on June 27th, 2026 at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA.

Born April 2, 1939 near Lubeck, Germany to the late Hilde and Wlademire Schwed, just months before the start of WWII. Olga never forgot the kind American soldiers that gave her white bread as a child, as it tasted like cake; they didn’t have that in Germany!

Her grandfather, Baron Leopole Van Der Schwede, was a well known and acclaimed Russian Electrical Engineer under Czar Nicholas II, initiating the establishment of numerous electrical stations in Russia, and electrifying the Palace (for the first time) at the Coronation of the Czar. Her father, Wlademir, grew up living in the family palace wing playing with the son of the last Czar (before the Russian Revolution in 1917).

Olga’s family made the brave decision to emigrate, arriving in Patterson, New Jersey in 1952 where she earned a Bachelor's Degree and worked as a special education teacher for many years.

She fell in love with Great Barrington, building a house and retiring here later in life.

Olga was passionate about the arts. She was a painter, singer, and member of many choir, concert, and art groups. She could speak three languages (English, German, and Russian), and was an active member of the First Congregational Church in Stockbridge; she wanted to be remembered as a lover of art, music, nature, and God and was always full of joy and had a smile on her face.

Olga met her increasingly difficult diagnoses with grace and good nature, as well as her signature wide smile.

As a final act of grace, Olga curated an art exhibit this past April of dozens of her paintings. She donated the proceeds to The Stockbridge Festival Chorus and The First Congregational Church; two communities that she was deeply involved with for many years.

She is survived by her nephew, Thomas Jay (T.J.) Taber, II and his wife Jessica Taber, and her beloved feline companion, Melody, who is being adopted by a friend. Olga is predeceased by her parents, and her sister, Inge.

SERVICE - A funeral service will be held at The First Congregational Church in Stockbridge on July 25th at 1:30pm.

Donations in memory of Olga may be made to Stockbridge Festival Chorus and The First Congregational Church of Stockbridge either directly or c/o Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to her family please go to www.finnertyandstevens.com