Miriam Gail Ketonen

1952 - 2021

Ms. Miriam Gail Ketonen passed away peacefully at home on August 29, 2021, at the age of 68 years in Thunder Bay.

Miriam was born December 31, 1952 in Port Arthur and grew up in Jumbo Gardens. The only girl in a house full of brothers, Miriam enjoyed dressing up the family's kittens and pushing them in a stroller. In the summer, the whole family would bundle into the car and drive all day out to the prairies: Miriam was gently discouraged from singing camp songs the whole way.

After graduating from Confederation College, Miriam worked as a surveyor on construction projects around the region.

In the early 1980s, Miriam and her soon-to-be husband Simon Hoad travelled
around the world for over a year, visiting 17 countries. Thailand was their favourite. This journey ignited Miriam's love of travel leading to extensive time on the road, exploring Cuba, Greece and Turkey, Mexico, Belize, Ecuador and Tanzania. Learning to snorkel brought Miriam magical experiences, and she would often revisit those memories of swimming through schools of colourful tropical fish.

Miriam worked at Canada Post for nearly thirty years. Beginning as a letter carrier, Miriam later worked night shifts as a postal clerk in operations, and finally in the retail store after boosting her French language skills. A strong feminist and advocate for social justice, Miriam was a union steward and supported a wide-range of progressive organizations.

While working, Miriam returned to school part-time and completed her master's thesis in clinical psychology on light therapy for seasonal affective disorder at Lakehead University in 2004.

Miriam always enjoyed mysteries, numbers, puzzles and creating order out of chaos, leading her to do bookkeeping for a number of community organizations, including the Thunder Bay Superior North NDP Riding Association.

Miriam attended the Winnipeg Folk Festival every year, and its parking lot tailgate suppers with friends became a family pilgrimage. Most recently, she volunteered running the musicians' merchandise tent at the Live from the Rock Folk Festival in Red Rock.

After her retirement, Miriam plunged into four book clubs, creating piles of half-read books beside the bathtub and her favourite armchair. Miriam worked occasionally with the standardized patient program at Northern Ontario School of Medicine, helping medical students practice their assessment skills.

Miriam will be deeply missed by her loving husband of 36 years, Simon and daughter Shivaun Hoad, along with her dear friend Joan Williams; her brother Ken (Vicky) and children Kris and Shana Marchessault (James); and
brother Al (Gayle Pryce).

Miriam was predeceased by her parents, Weikko “Winkie” and Selma Ketonen, and her brother Gary.

Simon and Shivaun are grateful to the wide circle of friends who gave love, support and meals to Miriam through the past months following her lung cancer diagnosis, and to sister-in-law Anna Hoad who rose to the occasion in providing assistance above and beyond. The family also wishes to give special thanks to the caring staff at the Cancer Centre, and to Aaron Medd of the NorthWest LHIN and Joseph, RN of Bayshore HealthCare, who both went the extra mile night and day to ensure Miriam's comfort during her final weeks.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the fall.

If friends so desire, donations in Miriam's memory can be made to the Northwestern Ontario Women's Centre.