Olga Topff Neuts

Mrs. Olga Neuts passed away peacefully in her home in Tucson, AZ on January 30, 2025. She is survived by her four children, Debbie Neuts (Bubba Hernandez), Kitty Sedam (Mark), Myriam Neuts, Chris Neuts (Kathy), and grandchildren Steven Sedam, Tyler Sedam (Hailey), and Haley Sedam (Gabe Damast). Olga was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, cousin, aunt, sister-in-law, godmother, and friend during her lifetime. She was loved by many and is already greatly missed.

Born in Vroenhoven, Belgium, near the border with Maastricht, Netherlands, Olga was the only child of her loving parents, Jacques and Florentine (Coenegrachts) Topff. Although an only child, Olga grew up surrounded by cousins, aunts, and uncles, whom she loved very much. She also had many strong friendships from her Catholic boarding school, Wavre, that lasted a lifetime. Olga had many memories as a child in occupied Belgium during WWII, including hurrying to the cellar when air raid sirens sounded, the fear when someone knocked on the door, and fleeing to France for a time. Later she learned her father had been helping the Allies by supplying information to them through secret networks. Her nickname in her youth group was “Lapine” (rabbit) because she wore her hair in braids and was small and fast, and rabbits remained a theme in her life.

Olga met her husband, Professor Marcel Neuts, at the University of Louvain where she was studying art history. Marcel’s passion and talent for mathematics took him to Stanford to earn his PhD. He proposed to Olga, and being the adventurous spirit that Olga was, she joined him in California to marry in 1959. They had four children in rapid succession, all while Olga was learning to speak English, her third language. She proudly adjusted to being an American and explored the US on many camping trips with the family. Olga loved raising her children and caring for the family, first in Indiana at Purdue University, and then in Delaware. Olga and Marcel always loved the desert southwest, and in 1985 they happily moved to Tucson, AZ, where they remained for their golden years.

Olga was always a creative, talented, and passionate artist. She took a weaving class in the 1970’s while at Purdue and became involved in the fiber arts community. Once her children were grown, Olga dedicated much of her time to tapestry weaving. She had a large studio in her home filled with many looms and rainbows of tapestry wool, as well as supplies for all media of art. Her studio was her happy place! She was an eager learner and supporter of the arts community. Olga served as president and hospitality chair for the Tucson Weaver’s Guild and was active in the American Tapestry Alliance. Olga’s devastating back surgery in the late-1990s followed by failing eyesight later in life curtailed her creative plans. Olga had many other passions and was a kind soul to people and creatures in need. She was an avid reader and lover of art, archaeology, nature, the great outdoors, animals, the Native American culture, the desert southwest, and her family near and far. Olga and Marcel traveled extensively throughout Europe, and to China, Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Bulgaria, Turkey, and many more. Olga’s adventurous and resilient spirit remained with her through her last days.

Olga will be greatly missed by her family and friends in the US and Belgium and France. She was a kind person who touched many lives. Services and a reception will be held Friday, February 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Most Holy Trinity Parish, 1300 N Greasewood Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745. Olga will be interred alongside Marcel in a private ceremony to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Olga may be sent to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona https://www.communityfoodbank.org/ or Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate/.