Liisa Deorio

Liisa Deorio
Liisa Deorio (nee Marja-Liisa Mattila) passed peacefully, at home, on April 19th, joining her beloved husband, Vinny, and son, Dennis, in heaven.
Born May 18, 1941 in Tampere, Finland, she was the daughter of the late Gunnar and Sirkka Mattila.
Liisa came to the United States to visit friends in her early 20s, after completing her first year of nursing school. She loved it so much she made it her home, leading to a wonderful life full of family and friends in Norwalk. Finns used the term "Sisu" to describe someone who exhibits resilience, inner strength, perseverance and even a little stubbornness. Liisa embodied Sisu in every way through her spirit, devotion to family, her strength to endure through difficult times and the quality of her many friendships (and yes, an occasional bit of that stubbornness). For decades, Liisa worked alongside Vinny at Reynolds Farms with boundless energy and a big smile, as practically every customer sought her out to get some gardening advice or, more importantly, just to say hello and share a laugh. In the 1980s and 1990s, Liisa and Vinny hosted big Fourth of July celebrations, where she was often the life of the party, enjoying family, music, dancing with the children and watching the impressive fireworks display put on by Vinny and his sons.
Liisa is survived by her daughter, Kaisa Newhams and husband Jeff, her brother, Juhanni Mattila and wife Barbru of Espoo, Finland, stepson, Jeff Deorio and wife Megan, stepson, John Deorio, nephew, Steffi Widen of Espoo, Finland, and nieces, Rosemary Davis, Melanie Davis and Patty Arthur, and many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whose lives she touched.
In addition to her parents, Liisa was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent, son, Dennis Larrauri, stepsons, James and Jay Deorio, and niece, Joanie Muse.
Family and friends will gather for visitation on Friday, April 25th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, Norwalk. A prayer service will begin at 12:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk.
In lieu of flowers, please consider performing a random act of kindness in keeping with Liisa's spirit.
Hei Hei Liisa. We love you. Aina.