Linda Lou Syrjanen

Linda Lou Syrjanen

Linda L. Syrjanen, 74, of Duluth, Minn., passed away at Essentia Health Saint Mary's Medical center on February, 5, 2025, after a brief illness, surrounded by her family.

She was born July 26, 1950, to Carl and Catherine Dekart in Hastings, Minn. She was the youngest of 15 children. She was adopted at birth by Norman and Frances Hellyer and grew up in Mountain Iron, Minn., where she attended and graduated from Mountain Iron High School.

She was a proud stay at home mother to her three daughters Tammy, Shannon and Carri. She worked a few jobs after the kids were older such as being a telemarketer at Fingerhut, which was also her favorite place to order things from. She was a very crafty person, and did a variety of different crafts such as being a seamstress, making her daughters clothes and incredibly creative, one of a kind homemade, Halloween costumes.

She loved cooking, baking and decorating cakes and would always make sure her daughters had unique birthday cakes each year. If she was watching tv, it was usually the cooking channel. Her favorite hobby was crocheting, and she could make anything.

When her daughters were younger, she made each a doll with an individualized southern belle style dress. She always had multiple crochet projects going at a time and was always making something for the grandchildren or great grandchildren. She also enjoyed learning to play the accordion and would often fill the house with polka music as the kids were growing up.

She is survived by her three daughters, Tammy Stratioti, Shannon Kelley, and Carri (Norman) Konecny, her nine grandchildren, her seven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, her best friend and significant other Jerry and her beloved cat Myah.

She was preceded in death by both biological and adoptive parents, and her biological siblings.

Her strong faith and belief in God and the love for her family is what helped give her strength and determination through all the trials and tribulations she faced during her life. She will be greatly missed by all.

A celebration of life to be planned for a later date.