Siiri Emelia Wuorie

1918 - 2011

Siiri Emelia Wuorie passed into the presence of her husband, Edlund, and her son, Edlund Jr., on Friday, April 1, 2011 at the age of 92.

She was born on September 7, 1918 to Otto A. and Mary K. Elo in the village of Demmon, Michigan, a mining town in copper country of northern Michigan. The family moved to another mining village near Ishpeming, Michigan where she and four younger siblings, two sisters and two brothers grew up.

At age 16, with the death of her mother, she assumed many responsibilities. Two years later with the death of her father she assumed all responsibilities for herself and her four siblings. Somehow she kept them all together during the Depression of the '30s.

In 1939 she married her high school love, Edlund Wuorie. Their only child, a son Edlund Jr., was born in 1940. Following WWII when Ed served in the Navy and she worked in the defense industry, they moved to California to escape the Michigan winters.

The three of them together enjoyed much wonderful time camping, fishing, and hiking in the Southwest, particularly Arizona, and also in the mountains and on the streams of California and the Pacific Northwest. Her other pleasures were oil painting, gardening, wildlife and the enjoyment of the art work she collected.

A major loss in her life was in 1977 with the death of her son at the age of 37 from complications of juvenile diabetes, including blindness. After that they lived quietly in Downey, CA until the death of her husband of 65 years in 2004. She came to Anacortes in 2007 to be with her youngest brother and his family.

Siiri was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, one brother and one sister.

Survivors include one brother, Don Elo of Anacortes, one sister, Vera Tarling of Escondido, CA and several nieces and nephews.

Not wanting anyone to fuss over her, the family will gather for a private farewell service at her graveside near Berkeley, CA at a future date.

She served her Lord well. Amen.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands. To share memories of Siiri, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.