Loving, bright, hilarious, kind, strong
Olivia was an “old soul.” Wiser than her years suggested and highly empathetic, she was an excellent advisor on life’s hardships. “She was very independent and resourceful,” her mother Mindi said. “When things were tough, she asked for help only after exhausting all options. She was steadfast in her beliefs and always respectful, but never faltered if someone tried to bully her into changing her mind.” Olivia was a natural protector and pillar of strength, especially within her own family. Following their father’s death by suicide in 2011, she became instrumental in raising her siblings, Lizzy, and Bernie. Though his passing affected her deeply, she prioritized her family’s well-being over her own, using marijuana to self-medicate her anxiety while staying strong for them. She was her mother’s best friend; Lizzy’s confidant; Bernie’s football-watching buddy; her step-father, Bret’s mechanic apprentice.
Olivia worked a variety of jobs, but her true calling was motherhood. In 2017, she gave birth to her daughter Freyja and her life changed forever. “Freyja was the apple of her mother’s eye,” Mindi shared. “She was instantly in love and made that little girl the focus of her life. She told Freyja every day, ‘You make my heart so happy.’” They spent their days crafting, cooking, cleaning, filming TikTok videos, or doing their hair together. Olivia made sure her daughter knew her manners, the importance of kindness, and—most importantly—that she was loved.
Though Olivia had stopped using marijuana after Freyja’s birth, she later began using other substances. She was frequently in pain from a desmoid tumor near her ribs and started taking OxyContin in October 2020. Shortly after, she began using heroin. She hid her drug usage from Mindi, but her mother noticed her growing exhaustion, agitation, and anxiety. When Lizzy and Bernie discovered the reason behind this change, Olivia threatened to remove both herself and Freyja from their lives if they told Mindi. In January 2021, Olivia took a dose of heroin that contained fentanyl. It was her last.
“I did not have a lot of time to put two and two together,” Mindi said. “Looking back, the signs were evident, but I was naive. My children have so much guilt for not telling me. I feel tremendous guilt for not knowing that she had started using illicit drugs. I have made sure to educate myself on the signs of SUD and to be an advocate for those suffering.”
Mindi knew Olivia had always been kind, charming, and caring, but it was never more clearly illustrated than at her funeral. They ran out of space in the funeral home and ordered food for everyone who attended the luncheon afterwards. People approach Mindi randomly, remarking on the similarity in her and Olivia’s appearances, and tell her how Olivia shared her sage advice when they were in a difficult situation. In 2023, Olivia’s picture appeared on billboards across northern Iowa to bring awareness to addiction, and Mindi hosted an Overdose Awareness Walk in her honor, which she hopes will become an annual event.
“I miss everything about her,” Mindi said, “especially her hugs and her random I love you text messages. Losing Olivia was like losing a piece of my soul. I really do think that every single cell in my body changed that day. And I will never be the same.”
Olivia’s mother, Mindi Swanson, provided the information for this narrative.
June 26, 1997-January 23, 2021-Age 23
Portrait Artist: Theresa Clower
Narrative Writer: Angela Day
