Aili Irene (Nieminen) Sukava

Obituaries — 25 August 2010

In her 88th year, Irene quietly traveled on to join Sulo on August 20th at Princess Court, Dryden, Ontario where she resided for the past three years.

Irene was a first generation Canadian, born on February 2, 1922 at New Finland, Saskatchewan, the 12th of 18 children born to pioneering ranchers, Anselm and Hilma Nieminen.

At thirteen, Irene left home to work in Winnipeg where she met and married the love of her life, Sulo Sukava of Elma, Manitoba, on November 16, 1947. They lived in New Finland, Winnipeg, Elma and Vermilion Bay before moving the family to Dryden in 1961.

Irene was known in her youth for being an excellent horseback rider, a very hard worker and a prankster within a large rural Finnish community. Amongst her family and friends, she was known for her smile, cinnamon buns, sewing, crocheting, generosity and unconditional love for her family. She was the “rock” of the family through many of life’s events, was often a single parent while Sulo had to work away from home on hydro and other construction projects and was present for the birth of most of her grandchildren in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Irene worked at the MNR tree nursery at Wabigoon for many years and, until she retired, the Regional Fire Centre at Dryden.

Irene readily adapted to the Sukava family’s fondness for travel by traveling extensively with Sulo throughout Canada and the USA, several times to Finland and Mexico and also to Russia, New Zealand and Australia. In Mexico, she developed a considerable talent for negotiating prices to the chagrin of many beach vendors. In her later years, Irene enjoyed hearing about her family’s travels to Europe, the South Pacific, Central and South America and Japan.

Irene, along with Sulo, placed a high priority on the education she was not able to obtain during the depression years and made sure that her children and grandchildren received a university education by supporting them as much as possible. Irene was very proud that all her children received at least one master’s degree and that her grandchildren are all involved in a variety of post-graduate educational pursuits, wide-ranging careers and world travels.

Irene, a longtime member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, was preceded by her husband, Sulo, in 2000, her parents and 16 siblings and is

survived by her

brother George Nieminen of Whitewood, Saskatchewan, son Larry (Trudy) of Dryden, daughters Loren of Vancouver, B.C. and Elaine (Robert) of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, six grandchildren, Paul (Eliza) and Tyson (Midori) Sukava of Vancouver, Carolyn Sukava of Winnipeg, Daniel and Matthew Gorman of Vancouver, Janeen of Prince Albert; sister-in-law Esther Greening of Whitewood, brother-in-law Dr. Jack Sukava of London and many nephews and nieces across Canada and the USA.

The family is very grateful for the caring attention given Irene during her residence at Princess Court by staff and Dr. Faye Kehler.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Our Saviour Lutheran Church (Dryden) building fund (contact: 807-223-6025) or the Kenora-Rainy River District Alzheimer Society (toll free: 1-800-682-0245).

A service celebrating Irene’s life and interment will take place on October 9, 2010 at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Dryden.

NAKEMIIN AILI, heimo

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