1882–1960
York Cemetery
Section 15 Lot 254
Born at Peterhof Palace near Saint Petersburg, Russia, Olga Alexandrovna was the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexander III and sister to Tsar Nicholas II. Raised in the Gatchina Palace under modest conditions despite her royal birth, she developed a love for nature, simplicity and art. Her father’s death in 1894 and the upheavals that followed shaped her resilience and faith.
In 1901, Olga entered an unhappy marriage with Duke Peter of Oldenburg, which was annulled in 1916. That same year, she married cavalry officer Nikolai Kulikovsky, the man she loved. During World War I, Olga served as a frontline nurse and was decorated for bravery. Her life changed dramatically after the Russian Revolution, when her brother Nicholas II and his family were executed. Olga fled Russia with her husband and children in 1920, eventually settling in Denmark.
After decades in exile, Olga emigrated to Canada in 1948, seeking safety from Stalin’s regime. She lived quietly on a farm near Campbellville, Ont., and later in Toronto. Despite her imperial lineage, Olga embraced simplicity, gardening, raising animals and painting. Over her lifetime, she created more than 2,000 artworks, which supported her family and several charitable causes. She remained deeply devoted to her Orthodox faith and her community.
Reflecting on her hardships, Olga once said, “I always laugh, for if I ever start crying, I will never stop.” That simple phrase captures the essence of her life – a spirit of courage and grace that endured through the fall of Imperial Russia, two world wars and decades of exile.
Olga died in Toronto on November 24, 1960, at age 78, and was buried at York Cemetery beside her husband. Remembered as the “last Grand Duchess,” her story is a reminder that true nobility lies not in privilege, but in resilience and service.
Olga was a first cousin twice removed of Queen Elizabeth II. Her ties to the British royal family were not forgotten; cemetery staff recall that the Queen Mother visited Olga’s grave, a poignant gesture honouring the enduring bond between two royal houses.
Source:
• Wikipedia – Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna
Photo: Olga's old house on Gerrard St. East, by Pat Farrell
