Kathleen E. Tolvanen

BEVERLY — Kathleen Elizabeth Tolvanen (Kay), 101, died peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 at the Caldwell Skilled Nursing & Rehab Center in Ipswich, where she received wonderful care and made many new friends.

She was born in Bear River, Nova Scotia, Canada on Jan. 14, 1908 and grew up on a farm with her parents, the late Susan (Lebans) Morine and John Morine. Her sister, Edwina Hart and her brother, Thaxter Morine predeceased her.

Kay left the farm and got on board a train bound for the United States in 1926 at the age of 18. The train stopped in Ipswich and Kay found work at the Olde Burnham House (now the 1640 Hart House). She later worked at the Ipswich Hosiery Mills. After she met the love of her life, the late Andrew Reino Tolvanen, she married and moved to Beverly where she settled down with Ray to raise three children. When her children were older she worked for several years at Webber's store in Beverly and at Johnny Appleseed's.

Kay was a woman of great faith and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Beverly for more than 70 years. Her faith was tested in 1969 with the death of her husband, Ray and again in 1999, when her beloved daughter Suzanne, wife of the late Gordon Morse, died suddenly.

Kay, a very petite woman in size, was strong-willed and independent. She got her driver's license at the age of 62 and drove for 30 years. She lived on her own until the age of 100 when illness slowed her down and it was necessary to move into assisted living at the Harborlight House in Beverly, where she enjoyed another year before becoming a resident of the Caldwell Nursing Home in Ipswich four months ago.

Kay leaves behind a daughter and son-in-law, Marcia R. and William D. Fabri of Ipswich and a son, John R. of San Jose, Calif. She leaves six grandchildren, Steven Morse, Karen Pratt, Eric Morse, Kristin Codair, Bill Fabri Jr., and Jana Fabri Sbardellati. She also leaves eight great-grandchildren, Jason and Mikayla Morse, Brandon and Brittany Pratt, Kenneth and Andrew Codair, and Stephanie and Lindsay Fabri, as well as many nieces and nephews.

ARRANGEMENTS: A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at the First Baptist Church, 221 Cabot St., Beverly at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Campbell-Lee, Moody, Russell Funeral Home, 9 Dane St. (downtown location) Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. Burial is in the North Beverly Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of the First Baptist Church, 221 Cabot St., Beverly, MA 01915 or to the Patient's Fund at the Caldwell Nursing & Rehab Center, 16 Green St., Ipswich, MA 01938. Information, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.