Elaine Marie Syrja

Elaine M. Syrja, 89, was born on Sunday, February 4, 1934, in Uusi Suomi, Negaunee. She was baptized at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Uusi Suomi on Sunday, February 11, 1934. She died peacefully on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility (MCMCF) in Ishpeming, where she had resided since April 6, 2022.
In her final hours, she was tended to by her daughter, Jodi Goldbeck; Director of Nursing Tina Nelson and staff at the MCMCF; and John Walker, RN, from UP Home Health and Hospice. Elaine died from complications of COVID-19, dementia, and an upper respiratory infection.
Elaine was born at home to parents, William "Bill" and Alice (Helsten) Larson with their sister-in-law Sanna Larson as midwife. Bill drove to Palmer to get Dr. Burke to examine mother and newborn daughter. The doctor pronounced the two healthy. "How much do I owe you?" Bill asked the doctor. "How much do you have on you?" the doctor replied. Ten dollars, was the answer, and the new father was left with no money in his pocket and his first daughter.
Elaine was to have two brothers, Melvin and James, both who died young, and a sister, Nancy, who was five years Elaine's junior. The two were as close as sisters could be and always enjoyed each other's company. Elaine graduated with the Negaunee High School, Class of 1952, with her good friend Nancy Anderson (later Nancy Hatch).
In November, 1954, Elaine married Robert "Matt" Syrja in Marquette. The couple lived in Negaunee, Tapiola, and Ann Arbor before settling in Gwinn in 1962. Elaine lived in her home on Blueberry Street for 60 years where she and Matt raised four sons and a daughter. She loved her New Swanzy neighbors and was always ready for a coffee hour with her many friends. The late Irene Froberg and the late Mary Vecellio were two of her closest friends. Elaine always returned home with homemade treats when she visited these two dear friends of hers.
Elaine was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Gwinn for 61 years, part of the Grace Quilters and the Naomi Circle. She only missed church in her final years at home when mobility issues plagued her. She sat next to her "Pew Partner" Karen Octaluk who sent Elaine a weekly card to MCMCF for 82 weeks, telling of Karen's life and church activities. Karen ended each card with "remember, God loves you." Grace Lutheran Pastor Jack Busche visited Elaine at home and at MCMCF, giving her words of comfort and Holy Communion.
She was also a member of the Gwinn Merry Mixers, the Forsyth Township Historical Society, the VFW Post 5670 Auxiliary, and was a volunteer for the RSVP Program.
Walking daily with her neighbor Christine St. Aubin, enjoying the company of her friend Cleta Sullivan for dinner, chatting with her friends Celia Viitala, Nancy Frassetto and Irene Harvala on the phone, Elaine loved her friends and the time they had together. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her neighbor Gloria Gurlea would talk once, sometimes twice, on the phone daily. She always looked forward to get-togethers with her cousins Virginia Paulson, Margie Bantle and the late Mary Brintlinger to talk of old times.
Elaine enjoyed time with her family, playing cards, doing the crossword, watching "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune," and visits to Matt's siblings' camp on the Dead River, and her son David and daughter-in-law Becky's camp on Little Shag Lake. Saunas and traveling were two of her passions in her earlier years.
Elaine's children wish to express special thanks to the following individuals who were extremely important to our mother in the final years of her life:
Sally Marjonen was our mother's dearest and oldest friend in Gwinn. The two knew each other for over 80 years. Sally's positive spirit, her upbeat optimism, the lilt in her "Good morning, Elaine!," all were so welcome, as were her weekly phone calls, and Sally's visits to Blueberry Street and MCMCF. Should we all be so blessed to have such a childhood friend!
Mary Connors was our mother's goddaughter and good friend. Mary's positive energy, weekly and sometimes bi-weekly visits, shared saunas, phone calls, and gifts of homemade raspberry jam, desserts, and woolen socks made her one of the most precious people in our mother's life.
Jackie Doyen, friend and neighbor for over 40 years, and our mother sometimes visited each other across Blueberry Street twice a day. Jackie's infectious laugh and kind nature were always appreciated by our mother. The two had a special bond with my mother visiting Jackie when she moved to Sawyer and Big Shag Lake. Jackie's daughter, Maurine Overesch, always visited our mother when she visited Blueberry Street, the two deep in conversation. Maurine's husband, John Overesch, kindly did work inside and around the house. Our mother always appreciated seeing Maurine and John.
Chris (Frassetto) McDonald was like a sister to sons Jim and Steve. Chris was always kind to our mother, visited her when Chris returned to her parents' home down the street, and always asked about our mother. She saw our mother often when she and Jim walked to high school together daily. The whole Frassetto family was special to our mother.
The Rev. Rell and Louise Spickerman, good friends of our mother, who arrived unexpectedly after her death, offered condolences, with Rell saying a special prayer over her. The couple's children Soren, Jennifer, Dietrich, and Siri were always welcomed in our mother's home. Also, thank you to Cindy Spickerman for her kindness in caring for our mom.
Family friend Sherry Juidici helped our mother shower during her last month at her Gwinn home. When Sherry tried to get our mother in the shower, Sherry tried every argument. Finally, Sherry said, "You know, Steve could go to jail for elder abuse if you don't shower." Elaine finally relented but probably got some satisfaction thinking briefly of her bossy son Steve behind bars.
Family friends Geri Lynn Eden and Vicki Sibley visited our mother at MCMCF often, and George Sibley shared his stories and donuts with our mother.
New Swanzy friends Ruth and Mike Forgette literally helped our mother up off the floor and onto her feet after she fell in her home many times. Mike did many household projects for our mother and gifted her fresh herbs and produce from his garden. Ruth always asked about our mother, visited her often, and baked Italian entrees and soups and desserts for her. Our mother proclaimed once that Ruth "made the best coffee" she had ever tasted, high praise from a Finn! Ruth's mother, the late Ida Juidici, was one of our mother's closest friends.
Our mother appreciated the Forsyth Township Public Library as they saved books and magazines for her. Thank you to Library Director Leslie Makela and her staff: Leslie Willig, Bonnie Forgette, Erin Piefer, and Ashley Smith.
The Forsyth Township Senior Center provided food and assistance for our mother for years. Thank you to Veronica Anderson, Avis Meyers-Ketola, and Michelle Borret.
Thank you so much to Dr. Catherine Kroll for taking care of our mother throughout her time in Gwinn and at MCMCF. Your compassionate care is appreciated. Also, thanks to Dr. Gwendolyn Buck and staff for providing excellent dental services for our mother, and to Dr. Scott Sather and staff for their faithful yearly examination of our mother's eyesight.
Elaine is survived by her son Steven Syrja of Gwinn; son David Syrja and his wife Becky Syrja of Gwinn; son, Dennis Syrja of Tampa; daughter Jodi Goldbeck and her husband Todd Goldbeck of Middleton, WI; grandsons: Brandon Syrja of Gladstone, Travis Syrja of Negaunee, Cameron Syrja and his wife Morgan Syrja of Tampa, and Tanner Goldbeck of Middleton, WI; great-grandchildren: Hunter Johnson of Negaunee, and CJ, Ava, and Malcom Syrja of Tampa; nieces Amy Braun and Jaime Warner, who sent their Aunt "Belaine" cards and letters and visited her often; nephew Walter "Junior" Wickman who lived with the Syrjas in Tapiola for a memorable short time; and many other nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Elaine was predeceased by her parents, Alice and Bill; her two brothers, Melvin and James; her sister, Nancy; her son, James; her husband, Matt; and her daughter-in-law, Amy Syrja of Tampa.
Elaine's four children all wrote about their mother recently:
Steve: "My mother loved to read books, magazines, and newspapers. She instilled in me my great love of reading."
David: "Having five kids home for the summer break, my mom was always glad when school started in the fall. She would say that she and the neighborhood women should have a party to celebrate."
Dennis: "Mom taught me a lifelong skill in first grade on how to pack my own lunch after I complained about her bologna sandwich-making technique once. From then on, I had to make my own school lunch. I was six years old."
Jodi: "The word 'sisu' is a Finnish word for stoic determination, grit, and resilience. My mom was the epitome of sisu, and I am forever grateful that she passed that quality on to me."
All four of us children visited our mother as much as we could, often accompanied by a friend or family member.
Family friend Ruth Forgette said that Elaine "was the epitome of a stoic Finlander." Son Steve told friends to look up "stubborn Finn in the dictionary where you would find a picture of my mother." She was Finnish, through and through, showing her emotions through her many kindnesses to friends and family.
At the request of our mother, no funeral will be held; however, she said nothing about a committal service or reception afterward, so that is our justification for having both. A committal service will be held, rain or shine, at Bakkala Cemetery on M-35, Forsyth Township, on Sunday, August 25, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. sharp (our mother was always early or on time) with Pastor Jack Busche officiating. A reception lunch to gather our mother's friends and family will be held at the Up North Event Center from 1 - 5 p.m. after the committal service. We hope you can attend and celebrate our mother's life.
Our mother would read "The Mining Journal" and complain about the long obituaries. "Who wants to read that this woman enjoyed picking blueberries?" she would grouse. "Her family and friends, and me," Steve would reply. So if our mother is reading this in the Next Realm and complaining about the length, I say, "Pffft!," her favorite expression.
This obituary is going to be even longer, sorry, Mom. We the Syrja children want to say a huge "thank you" to the Marquette County Medical Care Facility. Placing our mother into MCMCF was one of the toughest and most gut-wrenching decisions of our lives. However, we could have not asked for any better care for the 18 1/2 months she was a resident there. Nursing home staffs are unsung heroes who deserve so much of our respect, appreciation, and gratitude.
So thank you to the following: The 300 Wing aides and nurses, taking care of our mother 24/7, amazing, incredible, wonderful; Administrator Denise Perry; Nicole Barlock in Admissions; Assistant Administrator Allecia Filibeck; Director of Nursing Tina Nelson; Assistant Director of Nursing Krystal Heikkinen; Nurses: Jodi Wurth, Sonja Flack and Kristi Tarkowski; "Guardians of the Gate" (front door staff): Lori Brewer, Heather Holdwick, Donna Sandstrom, Sheri Hewitt, and Christy Kostreva; Housekeeping and Laundry, Physical Therapy, Dietary, and Dining Room staffs; Beautician Nicole Asgaard; Activities Director Nick Kangas and his staff; Dining Assistant/Singer/Evening Snack Lady Lois Westman; and all the entertainers that our mother so enjoyed (but no BINGO!).
Elaine's son Steve wishes to thank Social Worker Miranda Cobb, and Gail Parkkonen and Beckey Grove in Billing. The three were there for Steve in the beginning of the process to get our mother in MCMCF, the challenges in the middle, and the pains and joys at the end. They were always professional, always courteous, true godsends, always will be remembered with deep respect.
Should memorials be considered for our mother, Elaine M. Syrja, they may be directed to one of these three organizations: Grace Lutheran Church, PO Box 1114, Gwinn MI 49841; Forsyth Township Public Library, PO Box 1328, Gwinn MI 49841; UP Hospice Foundation, 1125 West Ridge Street, Marquette MI 49855. Please indicate "Elaine Syrja Memorial" on the check, so we children can send a thank you note.
Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother."
Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted."
Koskey Funeral Home of Negaunee is honored to be assisting the family.