Linda Arlene Lahti (Lammi), age 73, born 15 November 1947, passed away peacefully and suddenly on 22 May 2021 by her husband’s (of 56 years) side on their beautiful island on Georgian Bay. Linda is survived by her husband Samuel Lahti and their children Darren Lahti (partner Natalie Campeau), Wade Lahti (wife Debbie), and Amber Lahti (partner Glenn Matheson), grandchildren Tyler, Rachael, and Matthew.
Linda was one of 12 children with her only surviving sibling being her brother Walter Lammi (partner Kathy Hanson). Linda was predeceased by the following siblings Irene, Billy, Lenny (wife Jeanette), Lauri (wife Barbara), Arthur (wife Joyce), (wife of Wally, Sandra), Harold, Laila (husband Jack), Elsie (husband Gilles), Lillian (husband William). She was Tatti (Aunty) to over 40 nieces and nephews and mom to her kids friends too, and sister-in-law to many. She was the daughter of Raimer and Aili (Hongell) Lammi who grew up in the times of wagons and horse carts.
Linda was born in South Porcupine eventually making her way to Sudbury with her family where she met Sam; It was love at first sight. Linda was the most loving, caring, and understanding mom and granny, the most supportive wife, and really, everyone knew she was the boss of Sam’s Place. Linda raised her family equally, ran a restaurant, and assisted the Lahti’s with their commercial fishing endeavors. She even weathered the storm on Georgian Bay that took down the Edmund Fitzgerald to help Sam save the families commercial fishing nets.
Linda lived a humble life, growing up in a farmhouse and had her chores. She was the best burger, French fry cook, and blueberry pie chef in Sudbury and area (some customers swear by it) and the best mom. Her humbleness and ability to weather the elements helped forge her indominable spirit. She went to Sheridan Tech School and eventually became a housewife, mom, front line cook, restauranteur, fishing laborer and finally retired in the 90’s much to the dismay of Sam’s Place patrons who almost all recall beautiful or funny stories about her with their visits.
While, cooking, running a business she raised three children equally that were her pride and joy. Superhuman is best to describe how she raised children and worked the businesses. She was also Sam’s love of his life, his secretary, his keeper of keys and wallet and glasses and… well, all his goodies. She tried to be Sam’s voice of reason for his collection of curiosities and trinkets. That said, when Netflix came calling to film on location because of Sam’s Place’s uniqueness she got excited – she never was told that the movie involved vampires, thank goodness.
Although, she was tenacious, Linda was terrified of snakes, and when she and Sam journeyed across Canada, she hid in the back seat of the van with her feet off the ground and a blanket over her head when they drove through Manitoba because she watched on TV one day that there were garter snake hibernacula. Sigh, much to her chagrin, her daughter moved to Manitoba where the next visit had to be made in the winter – no snakes, and she got to attend an NHL game watching the Winnipeg Jets play. Linda and Sam also ventured to Northwest Territories and had to traverse the Mackenzie River during spring break-up when ice flows were hitting the barge. These were some of their adventures with others trips including: a road trip to Florida, Nashville, and Grand Ole Opry, various road trips throughout Northern Ontario, and one trip via plane to Las Vegas.
Linda loved her grandchildren immensely and would dress as a clown on Halloween to greet them, spend days at Science North with them bouncing on the big floor piano, and seeing IMAX movies. She loved seeing them screech for joy as they swam at camp jumping into the water over and over and marveling over frogs and fish. Linda enjoyed the simple things like sunsets and Sam’s bird hobby. She would comment about Sam and his flocks of birds and his overspending on bird seed and corn, but she always said it on the sly. She loved it and would speak of the many species that visited their window sill. She loved her family gatherings and cooking feasts; including her infamous turkey dinner with all the fixings.
Linda had a beauty that rivaled the likes of Greta Garbo and Marilyn Munro as all the Lammi women did with their glamourous smiles and Sam never let her forget it. She admits Sam was an incredibly attentive husband and they would dance at every opportunity, sometimes even in restaurants, a song would come on and Sam would grab Linda and they would dance, she smiled her grand smile, not a care in the world, until the patrons staring, got up and clapped in unison and thanked them – that, is true love. These two were inseparable.
Linda learned from her parents and taught that patience and perseverance were important, and also to be grateful for what you have. She was an avid reader and would read through boxes of books every year. She loved watching her TV shows and following her kids travels. She crocheted fine lace-like creations such as tablecloths and placements. She would pick blueberries for pies and harvest flower seeds to try propagating for planting. She loved to garden and grow flowers of all sorts but, that fear of snakes…precluded her from being the Master Gardener she should have been. Linda HATED the thick white little jelly bits in eggs, so she picked them out of every egg she could including when she cooked for the restaurant. She also picked out every fish bone, fish parasite, fluke and spent hours examining fillets before cooking it for her fish fries. She had always wanted to become a flight attendant, but she was afraid of heights!
Advice from Linda includes: The key to a successful marriage is unity, be there for each other, and don’t sweat the small stuff. For those lucky enough to have been part of her life, you may have your own stories and the family would love to hear them below if you’d like to share them.
Linda was strong, resilient, quick witted, quiet and private. She unconditionally loved her family and will be dearly missed. There is a private service for immediate family on 25 May 2021, at a later point in time there may be informal celebrations of life. The Lahti’s would like to thank the Canadian Coast Guard, Ian Van Leeuwen, and the OPP for their support and compassion. They would also like to thank The Sudbury Vascular Laboratory. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to: The Neo Kids Foundation, Georgian Bay Search and Rescue, if possible the Sudbury Vascular Laboratory, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or something similar. For donations or messages of condolence, www.lougheedfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements entrusted to the Lougheed Funeral Home.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Linda Arlene Lahti Lammi Saturday May 22nd 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Sudbury, Province: Ontario