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It is with great sadness that we announce the departure of our dear mother, Pirkko Helena Hynnä (nee Majanmaa), who passed away the morning of Wednesday, September 20, 2017 after a difficult battle with a heart condition and other complications.

Pirrko was born on May 9, 1940 in Parkano, Finland to parents Anselmi and Lyydia. At the age of 21, she immigrated to Thunder Bay at the behest of a relative. In the early years, she was actively engaged in the local Finnish community, working at a Finnish language newspaper and at the Hoito restaurant, where she would meet her future husband Kaarlo. The two were married in 1964, and together raised a family of three boys. 

During this time, Pirkko went back to school and earned a nursing degree, working as a registered nurse for several decades at various hospitals and senior care facilities within Thunder Bay. In addition, with her love of languages and impeccable memory, she availed herself to the local community as a translator, both through the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association and directly to friends and acquaintances whenever needed.

Her faith was very important to her, especially in her later years, and involvement in church activities gave her great joy, not only spiritually but also socially and culturally. 

She is survived by her sons Timo (Caroline, Maggie & Ben), Kevin, and Michael (Leonie, Zach & Chloe), her sister Sirkka, and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives throughout Canada and Finland. Pirkko was predeceased by her husband Kaarlo, whom she faithfully and selflessly supported through his own health challenges in the final years of his life.

An open visitation will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, September 27th at the Everest Funeral Chapel, 299 Waverly Street at Algoma. A private funeral service for family and friends will be held the following day.

Expressions of sympathy can be extended in the form of donations in Pirkko’s memory to FELM (Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission) or Hilldale Lutheran Church. 




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