Sean Paavo Nurmi

1973 - 2020

Sean Paavo Nurmi
February 17, 1973 - November 1, 2020
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the untimely death of Sean Paavo Nurmi on the night of All Saints' Day. Sean died at the young age of 47 after many years of graciously and tenaciously living with stage IV Carcinoid cancer. After having spent time earlier in the day surrounded by all of his immediate family, just as he had every Sunday for months, Sean died peacefully at home in Santa Rosa with his adoring wife right by his side, holding his hand and with his dogs, including his constant companion, Dobie, watching over him.
Sean was born the eldest of three children in Panorama City, California and grew up in Windsor. He attended Saint John's Catholic School, Cardinal Newman High School, SRJC, and Humboldt State University where he was a member of Xi Sigma Pi and the Logging Sports team and graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Forestry. He worked and made many friends in the Sonoma County Assessor's Office for 21 years, working his way up to the Chief Appraiser. Sean was a true outdoorsman. He loved fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, traveling, and boating, especially taking family and friends out on Lake Sonoma in his boat. All who knew Sean would agree that he was exceptionally dependable and caring, always willing to lend a hand and very knowledgeable, making him someone we all turned to for help or advice in many areas. He treasured life and spending time with his wife, family, and friends.
Sean is survived by his wife Caitlin Williams, parents John and Mary Nurmi, sister Brenna Nurmi, brother-in-law Michael Hoefer, and brother Pat Nurmi all of Sonoma County, and his aunt and uncle Veronica and Jim Nurmi, cousins whom he loved like brothers Josh Nurmi (Colin) and John Nurmi (Francesca) and their families, uncle John Bettencourt, mother-in-law Mary K. Williams, father-in-law Douglas Williams (Sylvia), brother-in-law Christopher Hardeman (Melissa) and family, and lifelong best friend and "brother" Jason Schallon (Liz) and family. Sean was preceded in death by his grandparents and other father-in-law Thomas Hardeman.
Sean loved history and walking through old cemeteries wherever he traveled, reading about people and admiring their beautiful headstones. He lamented that many of today's headstones are small and say little about the departed. We would like to honor and memorialize Sean when he is laid to rest in the historic Evergreen Cemetery in Manchester, CA with the nicest, most interesting headstone we can afford. In lieu of flowers we ask that you consider sending a headstone donation to Caitlin Williams, P.O. Box 343, Point Arena, CA 95468, or to paypal.me/SeanNurmi. Plans will be announced for an outdoor celebration of Sean's life in summer of 2021.