Lydia Olivo Jankowski, 95, formerly of Pembroke Pines and Hallandale Beach, FL was called to heaven on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at Memorial Hospital West, Pembroke Pines, after losing her courageous four-week battle with Covid pneumonia.

Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 28 Feb 1926, she was a daughter of Angel Olivo and Maria Ferrer Balcells.  While still a child herself, the oldest child, Lydia helped her mother raise a family of ten children.  A stool was built for Lydia so she could reach the top of the stove to help with the cooking.   This was a role that Lydia enjoyed her entire life. All her siblings looked to her as the matriarch of the family and as a loving, caring role model.

Lydia came to New York City in 1943.  She celebrated the end of World War II in 1945 at Times Square, where she witnessed the iconic Look Magazine photo being taken of the Sailor kissing the Nurse.  Lydia worked in the manufacturing industry, assisting with the war effort, and spent leisure hours dancing and singing. She always had a soft spot in her heart for her beloved Manhattan, where she enjoyed her young womanhood and many good times with her family.  She saw and met many famous people during this time.  Her favorite was Babe Ruth.

Lydia returned to Puerto Rico in 1961 to help her ailing mother.  She worked in the telephone industry at the historic La Concha Hotel in San Juan, where she met other famous people such as Van Johnson and Louis Armstrong.

In 1965, Lydia relocated to Florida, where she worked in the hospitality industry and later trained in Cosmetology.  She enjoyed a wonderful career in this field, turning customers into friends, before finally retiring from Hair & Co., Hallandale Beach, in 2004 at age 78.  She was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church, Hallandale Beach, for over 50 years.  Throughout her life, Lydia was a daily reader of the Bible and wore out more than a few rosaries, but the welfare of her family was always her highest priority.

Lydia enjoyed traveling.  She visited many parts of the U.S. and Europe.  One highlight of her travels was a visit to The Vatican to celebrate her 80th birthday.  She was thrilled to be able to stop at the grave of her favorite Pope, John Paul II.

Lydia was preceded in death by her sister, Anacelia Baboun.  She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra (Francisco) Urbistondo, Pembroke Pines, and Lydia Velazquez, PharmD (Michael Horan), Hollywood, FL and Glenwood, MD.  She is also survived by the following brothers and sisters and their spouses: Miguel Angel Olivo (Eva), Bayamon, Puerto Rico; Rosa Maria Davila (Octavio), Palm Coast, FL; Jose Antonio Olivo (Milagros), Palm Coast; Margarita Barsily, Aventura, FL; Francisco Olivo (Myrtelina), Palm Coast; John Olivo (Rosemary), Palm Coast; Rafael “Charlie” Olivo, Altamonte Springs, FL; and Bernice Scott (Roy), Hallandale.  In addition, Lydia is survived by grandchildren and their spouses Alexandra Merkur (Jeffrey), Pembroke Pines and Natasha Tolba, PharmD (Dr. Khaled Tolba, MD), Portland, OR.  She is also survived by great grandchildren Iban, Omar and Isabella Tolba, Portland.

Funeral arrangements are being conducted by Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, 1600 N. University Drive, Pembroke Pines.  Friends may call Friday, March 4th, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.    For those unable to attend, the family is offering LIVE streaming of the service on Friday, March 4, 2022 at 6:30 PM.  The link to attend LIVE is on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at: Hover & Click to the Right of the Arrow —> BOYD-PANCIERA FAMILY FUNERAL CARE

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 5th, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 542 Blue Heron Drive, Hallandale Beach.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org).