Olga A. Andrejev

Olga Andrejev, age 72, passed away October 31, 2021 peacefully at her home surrounded by her beloved family. Olga was a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother, and a person of unusual talent for homemaking. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, she emigrated from what was still the Soviet Union with her artist husband Vladislav and their young son. They arrived in the United States in 1980, spending almost a year in California and then traversing the entire country by car to settle near New York City. For some years, the family lived in a home where Olga took care of and cooked meals for elderly Russian emigrés. In this way she supported her family while her husband was beginning his career as a notable icon painter and teacher. Olga was an indispensable aid to her husband, being his secretary and interpreter into English throughout their entire life together. During their first years of life in America, the Andrejevs encountered many yet-living white Russian immigrants and their descendants, whose history, strong faith, aesthetics and outlook on life made a deep impression on Olga. She was fascinated by history in general, especially the noblest chapters of it, and this translated into a passion for collecting antiques. This was not a mere collectioner’s hobby; it was a natural act of preserving the warmth of the past, and all items—whether local American or from abroad, whether they were chairs or chests or spinning wheels, cutlery or folk dolls—all were everyday used items in her house. In 1987, the Andrejevs were able to purchase their own home up the Hudson, in Highland Mills, NY. Here, on “Sunny Lane”, a wonderful period of life began, Olga being able to order her own household and Vladislav having his own studio and beginning teaching. Olga lovingly raised their young daughter and homeschooled her. In 1993, they decided to move yet further up into rural New York State, to their present home in Whitney Point. This is a spacious but neglected Victorian era house with a spiraling oak staircase which Olga had found after much searching. There is quite a bit of land for gardening and landscaping. Olga particularly loved roses and roses loved her and grew well under her care. Olga also loved many aspects of culture, and classical music was always playing in her dining room. She was also a fan of ballet, and in her last decade she was an important member of the management of an excellent local children’s ballet school. She even taught young children there, having herself had some experience dancing. Olga was also a unique cook, serving up, over the years, countless feasts to friends, relatives and her husband’s numerous students, a great symbol of the hospitality which she possessed. These will be remembered by many and for a long time. The home in which she passed away is marked deeply down into the grains by her attention to detail and sensitivity. She took care of everything without any regard for fatigue nor even her own health. The house is steeped in her devotion to beauty, to an uncompromising faith in God and to faith’s manifestation in culture; it is steeped in her love for her family, her devotion to her husband and their common mission. We know that through the goodness for which her soul strived she lives on even now in Eternal Life. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Thursday at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, 54 Baxter St. Binghamton. The family will receive friends at the church from 10:00 am until the time of service. Burial will follow in St. Tikhon's Monastery Cemetery, South Canaan, PA. Funeral services provided by the Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home, 483 Chenango St. Binghamton. Please sign the online guestbook.

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