Kalervo Antero Helenius passed into eternal rest on June 13, 2017, 12:20 a.m., at the Pioneer Ridge nursing home after a lengthy illness. His companion of 45 years, Liisa, was by his side.
Antero, or Andy to his Canadian friends, was born March 3, 1937 in Toholampi Finland. He moved with his young family to Port Arthur in 1965. Trained as a mechanic in Finland, he worked as a truck driver for Domtar, Great Lakes Paper, and Peter Parkkari Trucking. An eye operation in 1979 forced him to change careers. He and Liisa started their own business, A&L Cleaning, where he worked until his retirement.
In addition to his home and family, his greatest passions were music and fishing. These he gladly shared with family and friends. Antero taught himself to play the accordion as a young man in Finland. His father did not approve of this, so Antero would go up on the barn roof to practice. Locally he toured with the Pelimanni Orchestra, Sinipiiat and the Half-Crazy Finns. He was an active member of several local organizations dedicated to Finnish culture.
Antero was not one to loaf around. He always had a hobby or a home renovation project going on between visits with friends and making music. He was a patient teacher, agreeable and sociable with everyone he met. He kept himself up to date on current events through the newspaper and television. His favourite author was Kalle Paatalo.
Antero is survived by his children Teuvo (Peggy, daughter Ashley), Paul, Sari and granddaughter Ilona in Finland, Liisa, step-daughter Irma, brother Arto (Leila), sister Arja (Reijo), and nieces, nephews, and other relatives in Finland. He was predeceased by his first wife Vuokko (nee Wenstrom), and parents Kalle and Irja.
Thank you to the nursing staff at Pioneer Ridge Plaza 2 for taking care of Andy and making his last days as comfortable as possible.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre, presided by Pastor Jari Lahtinen. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens will follow the reception. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association.
