Elvie Maunula

It is with sadness and joy that the family of Elvie Maunula (nee Niemi) announces her peaceful passing to be with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on December 28, 2017 at the age of 85 years with her family by her side.

Elvie was born in Esko, Minnesota on October 23, 1932 the youngest child of Emil and Hilma Niemi. She was raised on a farm and always sang to her cows while doing her chores, naming every one of the animals. In the summer of 1952, she met the love of her life, Frank Maunula, at Emmaus Bible camp and they were married in December of that year. 

She started her career as a bank teller in Cloquet, Minnesota following her high school graduation. She held several banking and clerical positions wherever the family moved (Minnesota, Illinois, Port Arthur, Superior Wisconsin, Calgary Alberta) and finally to Thunder Bay in 1973. In 1974, Elvie started working for the Ministry of Community and Social Services where she, once again, worked in various clerical positions. Her love of helping people lead her to become an Income Maintenance Worker with the Family Benefits Program. Having completed the Social Service Diploma from Confederation College, she started working as a Social Service Worker with the Lutheran Community Care Centre. She continued to further her education which eventually led her to work as a Pastoral Care Worker with the Lutheran Community Care Centre from 1986 until she retired.

Elvie’s life has centered on her family, friends and church. Music, reading, crocheting, crafts, gardening and camping have been her lifelong interests. She was an excellent baker and created goodies for visitors as well as church functions. She was in awe of every accomplishment of her children, grandchildren and great granddaughter. She kept each of them in her prayers and loved each one with all her heart. Elvie looked forward to visits with them and kept up to date with their lives.

Many treasured memories came from gatherings at the family camp Eldorado where Elvie loved to be hostess to family and friends for ‘sauna-dipping’, sing-alongs by the bonfire, blueberry-picking and fishing on the McKenzie River. 

Elvie will lovingly be remembered by her four children Stephen (Susan) Maunula, Debi Csabak, Michael (Tuula) Maunula and Sharon (Erick) Rantala. Grandma will be missed by her five grandchildren, Katrina Maunula (Cory Markle), Rebecca Maunula, Liisa (Ray) Okoh, Andrea Maunula (Ivan Sapp), and Mikko (Caitlyn) Maunula as well as her precious great granddaughter, Karissa Okoh. Elvie also leaves behind nieces and nephews in the USA as well as in Canada, her many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and their families who she loved dearly.

Elvie was predeceased by her beloved husband Frank, son-in-law Henry Csabak, parents Emil and Hilma Niemi, siblings and their spouses Hjalmer (Elsie) Stohlberg, Sylvia (Clarence) Isaacson and Ernie Niemi, Godson Brian Maunula, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews and many aunts and uncles.

The family is very grateful for the loving care that Elvie received from her homemakers while at Good Shepherd Village and then the staff at Hogarth Riverview Manor. The family was told numerous times by the staff how much they cared for Elvie and we knew she cared for them too.

Funeral Services for the late Mrs. Elvie Maunula will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church, 47 Walkover St. with Rev. Brian Falkenholt officiating. A reception in the Parish Hall will follow. Private interment in Riverside Cemetery will take place at a later date. At Elvie’s request, there will be no visitation. 

Should friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, donations to Christ Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, the Lutheran Community Care Centre, or the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission would be appreciated.