Hilja Johanna Nast

Obituary

Hilja Johanna Nast "Hili"

1931 - 2024

Hili grew was born in a poor village in the north of

Finland. She was later to write poignant and funny stories for Finnish-American newspapers that were collected, translated and published by North Star Press, "In Wartime Finland; Memories of a World War II Childhood."

So Hili was grateful when her aunt, Hanna Mila, offered to sponsor her to come to the U.S. In 1950, Hili emigrated to NYC and worked in beauty salons there.

In NYC, Hili met Olavi Hirvonen and they married. When Olavi was drafted, they relocated to Alaska and experienced several seasons in a trailer outside the U.S. army base.Their first child, a son, Esa was born in Fairbanks. Back in NYC their daughter Elisa was born.

Hili was a homemaker and mother as well as a help mate in her husband's construction business. They lived in Vermont and then NY state until Esa's tragic death in 1977. Changing their course, the couple purchased property in the Adirondacks to create a cross country ski resort, Lapland Lake. Their marriage of 30 years was to break up soon after.

Hili, now on her own, joined her daughter in Princeton, New Jersey. Also living in New Jersey was a recent widower, Philip Nast. He and Hili formed a strong attachment and were married in Lambertville, NJ in 1984.

They lived in Benson, NY for many years and later moved to Duluth, Minnesota where her brother and wife lived. Phil and Hili's loving relationship lasted 37 years, until Philip's death in 2021.

Hili had many interests. She was an award winning runner and skier who competed in many races and marathons. She was a writer, a published author, and wrote copious letters, keeping in touch with her many friends around the world. She was a teacher of Tai Chi and led popular classes in NYS and in Duluth. She loved to travel and took many trips with her daughter or friends. Her love of animals was boundless

Hili was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, a kind, helpful friend and neighbor. She is survived by a daughter, Elisa Hirvonen, son-in-law, Henry Dale and two grandsons, Kai and Julian Dale, nephew Paul Hautamaa, stepson Philip Nast and step grandchildren, Hannah, Allison and Bennet Nast. Predeceased are brother Veikko Hautamaa and wife Sirkka, son Esa Hirvonen, and grandson George Dale Donations in her name may be sent to Fulton County SPCA, 117 W. Fulton St, Gloversville, NY, or Animal Allies, 4006 Airport Road, Duluth, Minnesota 55811.