Jodie (Birkett) Olsen

Mar 10, 2025

Jodie (Birkett) Olsen

  Jodie (Birkett) Olsen passed away on Feb. 28, 2025, at the age of 41. Jodie was a resident of Kearny, AZ and lived in Kearny for most of her life. She passed at home surrounded by loved ones following a brave but short battle with cancer.

  She is survived by her husband, Shane Olsen; her children, Macie and Waylon Olsen; her parents, Gary and Lorraine Birkett; her sister, Kelly Birkett; and her brother, James “Jimmy” Birkett, as well as many other family members who loved her very much. Her memory will also survive through many great friends and extended family.

  Jodie is preceded in joining the Lord by several family members, but most recently by her grandmother, Stella Birkett.

  Jodie was born on Sept. 25, 1983, to Gary and Lorraine Birkett at the Kennecott hospital in Kearny, AZ.

  After Jodie graduated from Ray High School in 2001, she attended Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Mesa Community College earning an Associate’s Degree, then she pursued her Real Estate license. This pursuit brought her back to Kearny where she worked at the family business, Old Time Pizza (OTP), while starting out in the field of local real estate. This led her to buying and creating a beautiful home that she would later share with her husband and children.

  She and her husband Shane began dating shortly after she made the permanent move back to Kearny. They were married on April 30, 2011, and in the following years they were blessed with their two wonderful children.

  Jodie and Shane officially took over the family business in January 2021 and have been an important part of the community in many ways. In total, Jodie worked at OTP for over 20 years. She is remembered by many as the friendly face and caring conversationalist that would greet them at OTP.

  Jodie was many things. She was a beautiful woman, a beloved family member, a talented artist, a loyal friend, and a successful entrepreneur. However, her greatest love was her family and despite her many accomplishments, being a mom to her two children was what she enjoyed the most in life. She enjoyed traveling with them whether it was on trips across the country, camping trips up north, longer hikes, or short walks around the Kearny Lake. She also loved spending time at home with them, and the pets that were an important part of their family.

  Jodie will be missed by many, but her memory will live on in our hearts forever.

  Services will be held on March 15, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church in Kearny.  A celebration of life for Jodie will follow at the Firehouse Saloon where food will be served and memories shared.

  Jodie will be missed dearly and will live on in our hearts forever!

  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Jodie’s name to: