Kirsti Jarvela

Mrs. Kirsti Maria Jarvela, age 97 years, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, February 3, 2017. Kirsti was born in Veteli, Finland on January 27, 1920 to Juho and Nelma Klemola. Kirsti graduated from Culinary Arts Studies and worked in Kokkola during the war.

In 1942 she married her husband Eino Jarvela. Along with their 3 sons they came to Canada, settling in Port Arthur in 1957. Soon after arrival their daughter Maria was born, and the family was complete.

As with so many immigrants, life was a challenge in the early years but through hard work and perseverance they built a wonderful life for themselves and their children – a life that soon included the family camp on Dog Lake where many saunas were enjoyed by both family and friends.

Mom’s two greatest loves were her family and Church. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were a great source of pride and joy. She was a very special Mummu who enjoyed gardening, crocheting and tending to her flowers.

Mom loved flowers. Kirsti was very active in all aspects of church life including volunteer work that, later on, would see her visiting the elderly in the hospital and in seniors’ homes, or attending out of town Church Conferences with her many church friends. As if that wasn’t enough, Mom even served as the Womens’ Committee’s recording secretary – a position she held well into her 90s!

Kirsti was a proud Canadian and was equally proud of her Finnish Heritage. She was active in the Finnish community with various organizations and was a member of the Finnish War Veterans Association, Keskipohjalaisten Kerho and Suomi Koti as well as Hilldale Lutheran Church.

Kirsti is survived by her three sons, Olavi (Barbara), Sakari, Vesa (Cindy) and her daughter Maria (Bill Hall); 10 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Kathleen, Melissa, Brian, Julien, Lindsay, Michael, Elisa, Raili-Ann and Steven and 14 great-grandchildren; her brother Mauno Klemola (Kyllikki), sister Martta Lantta as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, including favourite cousins Kaisa and Juho, all residing in Finland. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Eino; her parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, one brother and two sisters as well as a sister-in-law and seven brothers-in-law.

Funeral Services for the late Mrs. Kirsti Jarvela will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in Hilldale Lutheran Church, with Rev. Jari Lahtinen and Rev. Nancy Ringham officiating, followed by a time of fellowship in the Church Hall. A private family interment will then follow at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Church.

Should friends so desire, donations made in memory of Kirsti to Hilldale Lutheran Church would be greatly appreciated.

Arrangements have been entrusted to EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma.