Chiyo (née Matsuki) was born on October 27th, 1941, in Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. At the age of 17, she moved to Yokohama to live with her aunt and attend seamstress school. While employed as a tour guide, she met a tall, handsome Finnish tourist and this chance meeting culminated in a marriage proposal. This was followed by a yearlong correspondence hampered only slightly by the fact that neither understood each other’s native language. Upon Tauno’s return to Japan, they were married in a Western-style wedding. They honeymooned in Russia and settled briefly in Sweden where their son was born. Less than a year later, they emigrated to Canada – first to Ontario, then westward to BC – each move punctuated by the birth of a daughter.
In 1972, they settled in Ootischenia (Castlegar) and she helped to build the home and gardens that she would transform and nurture for the next 45 years. Chiyo – a self-described ‘city girl’ – learned how to camp, to garden, preserve food, raise poultry, koi and rabbits, forage for mushrooms and huckleberries, and cross-country ski. Resourceful and practical, she also had an appreciation for art and beauty which culminated in impressive collections of ceramics and flowering plants. She was a devoted wife to Tauno, and a dedicated mother to her three children. Chiyo strongly emphasized the importance of formal education and encouraged her children in this aspect. She was especially proud to have attended the graduation ceremonies of each of her grandchildren. An avid seamstress, she sewed for much of her life and each Christmas gifted her grandchildren with ‘Grammie’s Jammies”. She also pursued many other creative hobbies such as oil painting, knitting, crocheting, rug-making, flower arranging, quilting, soap-making and cooking. She was a foodie long before the term had been invented, passionate about ethnic cuisine and incredibly determined in her quest to source Asian ingredients and seafood. Eventually, she was able to grow much of the exotic produce she craved: edamame, gobo, daikon, shiso, kabocha, nasu and kyuri. She was a gracious and generous hostess to her many friends and neighbours. After Tauno’s retirement, they enjoyed many camping trips throughout parts of BC and Vancouver Island. She made several trips back to Japan, Finland and a dream trip to Australia in 2002.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Tauno, her children Ken Syrja (Billie Jean), Kay Richmond (Colby), Lee McKelvey (Brad), and grandchildren Taylor, Daniel, Hayden, Erik, Nathaniel and Emersyn. She is also survived by sisters Saiko and Fumiko, and nieces and nephews in both Canada and Japan. She was predeceased by her parents Chuji and Kimino Matsuki and siblings Nobuko and Koichi.
There will be no formal service, but a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Chiyo nee Matsuiki Syrja 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Castlegar, Province: Colombie britanique