Franciscan Sister Olga Neft, 96, passed away May 19, 2026, at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Francis Convent on May 23, at 11 a.m. Friends may call at St. Francis Convent on May 22, from 4-8 p.m. — with a Franciscan prayer service at 7 p.m. — and from 9 a.m. until the time of the funeral May 23. The Mass will be livestreamed on YouTube: youtube.com/@FSLFvideos.
Sister Olga was born on Dec. 14, 1929, in Blackduck, Minnesota. She was the fifth of Henry and Otillia (Funke) Neft’s six children. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls on Aug. 12, 1947, receiving the name Mary Aquinas.
She made her first profession of vows on Aug. 12, 1949 and final vows on Aug. 12, 1952. She later returned to her baptismal name. She was a Franciscan Sister for 78 years.
Sister Olga earned master’s degrees in library science and theology. She was the librarian and taught at St. Francis High School for 10 years. Later, she ministered to migrants, did pastoral ministry, directed retreats and was director of temporary professed sisters. She served in Little Falls, St. Paul, Wayzata, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park, Minnesota; Des Moines, Iowa, and Marathon and Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
Sister Olga was a welcoming, non-threatening Franciscan woman who went through life looking for God’s imprint in each person. She discovered that it showed itself in as many different ways as there were persons. She had a gentleness and compassion that touched and moved persons she met toward greater openness to God and acceptance of themselves and all creation.
She enjoyed creating beauty in a vase, with a sewing machine, on a library shelf, in a picture frame or a pen. She loved to dance and read, to travel or stay at home. She once wrote, “I feel so blessed. Although my life has its share of ups and downs, God has always been there, whether in presence or perceived absences. Whenever I have felt most abandoned, God sent a messenger of peace and love.”
She continued, “The hymn, ‘This is My Song,’ is important to me for several reasons: to celebrate my love of my country; my teaching ministry, especially in American History and World Geography; my beloved career as a librarian with the whole universe at my fingertips and my Franciscan heritage which embraces all peoples and all of God’s creation.”
Sister Olga was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Veronica Weidenbomer, Louise Frenzel, Ferdinand Neft, Elizabeth Frenzel, and Ermaline Schlumpberger. Survivors include her nieces, nephews, extended family and her Franciscan Community.
Donations to Franciscan Sisters’ ministries are preferred.