On May 31st, 2018 Mirjam Sylvia Koski left with the angels toward her heavenly home with family by her side at Bethami Nursing Home at the age of 96.
She was born in Ylistaro, Finland and was the only child of Marja & Victor Pihlajamaki. At only a few weeks old, her mother passed away and she was cared for by her aunts. At the age of seventeen, after noticing each other a few times in their community, her future husband Vilho finally asked her to attend a traditional summer festival and their engagement followed shortly. They were married in 1939 and started a family on their farm when our father had to leave for war. War time was difficult enough but during these years she had the tenacity to raise her 3 very young children while working hard to continue the work on the farm, always looking down the road to see if her Vilho was coming home. The war ended and thankfully our father did come home and they continued raising their family on the farm until 1958 when they decided to move to Canada for a more prosperous life.
Later the family now became six and life was busy. Cooking was what she knew and enjoyed and so for the majority of her life she worked for various restaurants in the heart of the Finnish community, Bay Street. She regretted later not going to English speaking classes but that never got in the way in those days. She worked tirelessly along with our father to provide a warm family home. She loved her flowers and tended to her gardens and they were masterpieces. She made sure that our family was always brought together by lovingly preparing countless special occasion dinners, including our traditional Christmas Eve celebration. Once grandchildren were on their way, she hand-made the christening gown that the grandchildren and many great grandchildren have been christened in. With her passion for crocheting, her gifted talents created many beautiful heirloom bedspreads. She treasured spending time at the Green Point summer camp by her majestic Lake Superior.
When we travelled to the States to go shopping, she was the one who had the stamina to keep going while the rest of us would not have an ounce of energy left. She liked to have fun so dressing up as a hockey player for Halloween and stunning her family at their doors was no problem. She loved cheesecake and was inclined to change her curtains often,-it made her happy to keep her home always tidy and looking smart. She never learned how to drive but once we showed her how to use a motorized scooter in a mall, she took off believing she was Mario Andretti until she forgot how to stop.
She was blessed with a large family and she deeply loved each and every one of them. Our mother nurtured us, comforted us, taught us the importance of family by her own devotion to hers, truly worked hard and sacrificed so our lives would be better, prayed for us and helped instill in us our faith in God that she knew will forever keep us strong.
She is survived by: daughters Meeri Makinen (Uolevi) and Minna Novak (Peter); daughters-in-law Ritva Koski and Laila Koski; 8 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous family members in Finland. She was predeceased by and waiting to be reunited with her cherished sons Markku (2001), Mauri (2016) and beloved husband Vilho (2008).
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 6th 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Hilldale Lutheran Church, 321 Hilldale Road presided by Rev. Jari Lahtinen. A luncheon will be served immediately following the service. Interment will then follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. If friends so wish, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to either Hilldale Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or any charity of your choice.
