Sisko Hannele Kaarina Auvinen

1942 - 2017

Sisko Hannele Kaarina (nee Parkkinen) passed away at age 74 in Maple Ridge, BC on Friday, April 14, 2017 with her family by her side following a battle with cancer. Karen was born July 1, 1942 in Kannus, Finland. Daughter of the late Matti S. and Tyyne A. Parkkinen (Nygard). Also predeceased by brothers Erkki and Ensio and her husband of 39 years, Martti J. Auvinen. Survived and lovingly remembered by daughter Lea M. Walton (Brad King) Of Maple Ridge and cherished granddaughters Katrina and Kari Walton, sister Terttu (Mauri) Lahti of Thunder Bay and her niece Lisa Lahti-Robinson (Darren) of Collierville, TN as well as extended family and relatives in Canada, USA, Finland and Sweden. Kaarina came to Canada with her family in 1953 and they settled in Port Arthur, ON. Karen attended Queen Elizabeth Public School and Hillcrest High School. She married Martti in 1965 and had her daughter in 1967. They moved to Maple Ridge, BC. in 1972. Karen was a kind and gentle person, shy at times but also opinionated at others, with a quick wit about her. She was a homemaker and made a house a home, It was always clean and welcoming, dinner on, coffee pot on, dessert made and the sauna was hot. Memorial services will be on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Maple Ridge Funeral Chapel, 11996 – 216th Street, Maple Ridge, B.C.