Glenna Sulkala

1922 - 2017

Glenna Easton Sulkala, (Ging), age 94, passed away peacefully in her Norwood, Mass.home on Friday, January 20, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Paisley, Scotland on March 4, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Stuart and Dora (Riley) Easton. She came to the United States with her family at the age of 2, settling in Brookline. Glenna spent her early childhood in Brookline, however she and her mother returned to Scotland often to visit relatives. She graduated from Brookline High School with the Class of 1940. Glenna married her husband, Charles O. (Charlie) Sulkala, on April 25, 1942 in Maryland, before he was sent to North Africa and Italy during WWII. They honeymooned in Savannah, Georgia, after which, Glenna returned to Brookline to live with her parents until Charlie was able to return home in 1945. The young couple spent a couple of years in Brookline before moving to Islington in 1947 and finally settling in Norwood in 1951. As her children grew up, Glenna took a cashiers position with Mals Department Store in Norwood, where she worked until 1962, when she began working at Norwood Hospital in the Delivery Room as a Nurses Aide. She continued volunteering at Norwood Hospital for many years. In the late 1960s, Glenna and Charlie began wintering in Florida and purchased a winter home in Clearwater, where they enjoyed spending time with their family until 1988. Over the course of their years together, Glenna and Charlie loved to travel together. Whether they were in Europe, Australia, or anywhere else, they always enjoyed meeting people and forming new friendships. They made special trips each year to attend Charlies 38th Repair Squadron Reunion, which they both were instrumental in organizing. Glenna enjoyed knitting in her younger years and as she grew older, took up the hobby of mending clothes for her family. She took great pride in caring for her yard, whether she was mowing the lawn or tending to one of her gardens. As an avid reader, she enjoyed picking up a good mystery novel and also enjoyed working on jigsaw puzzles and systematically popping sheets upon sheets of bubble wrap. Above all, family was most important to Glenna. "Ging", as she was known by her grandchildren, loved the opportunity to care for them and her great-grandchildren, and always considered their friends to be a part of the family. Ging took great joy in making her pistachio cake which was a regular college treat across the country. Beloved wife of the late Charles O. (Charlie) Sulkala. Loving mother of Chuck Sulkala and his wife Linda of Walpole and the late Nanci Beth Sulkala who was tragically killed in a car accident on her 19th birthday. Cherished grandmother of Kristen E. Cannon and her husband Christopher of Norwood, Charles E. (Chad) Sulkala and his wife Erika of Grayslake IL, Doug S. Sulkala of Plymouth, Matthew L. Sulkala and his wife Lea of Washington, D.C., Jonathan K. Sulkala of Norwood, and Alina Nanci Sulkala of South Attleboro and great-grandmother of Ryan, Jack, and Meredith Cannon of Norwood, Charlie and Caleigh Sulkala of Grayslake, IL, Keira and Colby Sulkala of Mansfield, Glenna Sulkala of Washington, DC, and Tyler Sulkala of Norwood. Sister of the late Dora Wright. Aunt of Beth Malloy of Walpole, Donna Rojas of Walpole, and Susan Wright of Huntington Beach, CA. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours on Monday, January 23, 2017, from 5 to 8 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A funeral service and life celebration will be held in the United Church, 30 Common Street, Walpole on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery in Norwood. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.), 511 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700, Irving, TX 75062or to her grandson, Dougs Boston Marathon charity fund at www.run.DFMC.org/2017/dougs to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.