Sylvia Maki

Sylvia Esther Maki, 100 of Palo died Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at Essentia Health-Northern Pines in Aurora. 

She was born on November 16, 1925 in Grand Rapids MI, to parents Frans Oscar Lindholm and Laina Katri Leinonen, both of whom were Finnish immigrants. Her brother Onni Taisto Lindholm, and her grandson Thomas Takahata predeceased her. Sylvia married Arthur Arnold (Arne) Maki on July 5, 1947; he died October 21, 1995. Sylvia is survived by 3 children, Edla/Eedy (Larry) Gustafson, Bruce (Susi) Maki and Lynn (Ichiro) Takahata, and her stepson Arnold Lee (Shirley) Maki. She was a loving Grandma to 10 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren, plus 1 coming this spring. On November 16, 2025, Sylvia celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at Northern Pines Care Center. She was happy, clearly enjoying being with her family and many friends. Sylvia loved living in her home in Palo from 1952 until 2022 when she moved to Carefree Living in Aurora MN, then to Northern Pines Care Center in Aurora. She cared for people in her community as an RN and Head Nurse at White Community Hospital (now Northern Pines Hospital). Because she worked the night shift for many years, she was instrumental in the healthy births of many babies - probably her favorite part of being an RN. She was an active member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Palo and for many years was a baker, cooker and ticket seller at the Laskiainen Festival in Palo. And she loved to read, re-reading many of her favorite books until they fell apart. We will miss her in our lives.

 A future celebration of her life will be planned for a time that is not Minnesota winter.