About Olsens Funerals

At Olsens Funerals, we believe families are the foundation of our community. Since 1944, our family has been providing comfort, compassion and complete funeral services to families in Sydney and the surrounding areas. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional quality; meaningful value and professional, understanding service to our friends and neighbours in this community.

We are committed to continuing this family tradition and are independently owned and operated. Our Company is led by the third generation of the family. Olsens plays an active part in the community in a variety of ways including providing seminars and training, involvement in suicide prevention, sponsorship of local Arts and Crafts and the provision of a bus for physically and intellectually challenged children.

We take our role of community member seriously and as well as taking care of all families that choose us before, during and after the funeral we accept our responsibility to the wider community.

History of Olsens Funerals

Henning Naesborg Olsen left Copenhagen, Denmark as a young man and came to Australia in 1924. Following his decision to settle in Sydney, Henning married and became a naturalized citizen. In 1935, with his wife Clarice and daughter Nola, he moved from Hurstville to Sutherland, which was then on the southern fringe of Sydney’s metropolitan area. His intention was to provide a taxicab service from Sutherland Railway Station. With the opening of the railway line between Sutherland and Cronulla, Henning extended his taxi service which serviced the intervening railway stations. 

While Sutherland was still considered to be "a long way out of Sydney", there was nothing casual about Henning’s taxi service or in its presentation. Attention to detail and customer service was the hallmark of his twenty-four hour service.

Over those years, Henning became aware of the number of funeral corteges that wound their way over the Sutherland Railway Bridge on their way to the Woronora Cemetery and Crematorium. He decided to change his career from taxi fleet proprietor to funeral director, to meet the local need.

In May 1944 Harry advertised the opening of his funeral directing business and the following year was granted permission to build premises, again in close proximity to the Sutherland Railway Station. The taxi service was gradually replaced by H.N. Olsen Pty Ltd Funeral Director and attracted the same dedication to detail.

Throughout their married life, Henning’s wife Clarice was his constant support and with his untimely death Clarice and son Richard carried on their involvement in the business.

In more recent years daughters Nola and Lela and their husbands Ron Watt (deceased) and Peter Kellaway became the proprietors of the Company, now managed by Stephen Kellaway representing the third generation.

The goodwill established in the Sutherland area and the standards set by Harry so long ago have not diminished, rather they have been extended to our branches at Caringbah Bexley North and Revesby.

As funeral directors, the family prides itself on continuing the tradition of service to the community begun by Henning Naesborg Olsen, back in 1944.