Elizabeth Kouhi, aged 100 years, died peacefully in her sleep on Friday morning, January 5, 2018, at Roseview Manor. Elizabeth was born in Lappe, Ontario, on November 24, 1917, to Aliina (Keisteri) and Antti Kaija. She served in the RCAF in Toronto during WWII, graduated from McGill University in 1949 and then went to teach in Raith where she met her husband, George. The couple moved to Fort William with their four children in 1958 and Elizabeth continued her teaching career at Lakehead College, Northwood High School, and Sir Winston Churchill High School where she taught for many years. The camp at Warnica Lake, from the early sixties onward, was a place of refreshment and inspiration. After retirement she had a second career as a writer of poetry and children’s fiction and travelled extensively with her husband George, including trips to Finland, the land of their ancestors. Elizabeth’s faith in Jesus and her love of poetry were the most important things in her life in addition to her love for family and friends. Elizabeth and George were charter members of Calvary Lutheran Church and active in congregational life. They also supported the Association for Community Living and its predecessors, with Elizabeth editing the newsletter for many years. She was the first recipient of the Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop Kouhi Award, established to recognize “outstanding contributions to the literature of Northwestern Ontario” and named by her fellow writers in her honour.
Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband George (2000) and her brother Martin Kaija (1978). She is survived by her four children, Christine Kouhi Hallemeier (Dennis Hallemeier), Aline Kouhi-Klemencic (Tony Klemencic), Philip Kouhi, and Emily Kouhi-Lavender (Dan Lavender); ten grandchildren, Nora, Katherine, Frances, Julia, Jonathan, Jane, Michael, Isabel, Pauline, and Stephen; seven great grandchildren; four nieces and one nephew; and sister-in-law, Ruth Olafson.
Funeral service will be Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 11:00am in Calvary Lutheran Church with Rev. Tim Barone officiating. Interment to take place in Lappe Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Friday evening 6-8pm in the Blake Funeral Chapel.
The family wishes to thank the staffs at Glacier Ridge and Roseview Manor who took good care of Elizabeth. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Lutheran Community Care or Canadian Lutheran World Relief or to a charity of your choice.
