Born in 1907 in Russia, Pskov Oblast, in the villiage of Zavizhye, Rozhnitskiy. In the family of the descendants of farmers Kārlis and Kristīne Elstiņš who came from Estonia and Latvia in the second half of the 19th century. Brother Augusts (b. 1905), sisters Emīlija (b. 1899), Alvīne (b. 1902), Amālija (b. 1911). Sister Bertīne and brothers Jānis and Rūdolfs died in childhood.

Until the revolution, the village had a Lutheran church and a small Latvian school, where Otilia studied for four winters.

Married to Voldemārs Grāvelis (b. 1905). Lives in the Strugi Krasnye district, joins the collective farm during the USSR collectivization. Voldemārs is the chairman of a small Latvian collective farm, Otīlija works as a cook in the collective farm. There are four children in the family.

On December 10, 1937, the Soviet authorities arrested and took away her husband Voldemārs and brother Augusts, who were later shot in Leningrad as she finds out.

After the war, in the summer of 1945, she moves with her children to live with relatives in Vidzeme, Latvia. Valmieras rajons, Rencēni.

Last place of residence Riga. Died in 1992 at the age of 85.

Source: Family archive, //visz.nlr.ru/person/book/pskov