It is with great sadness that the family of Marja-Leena Maenpaa (“Leena” / “Mummu”), age 79 years, announce her passing.
Marja-Leena will be reunited with her late husband Juho (“Jussi”, passed August 5, 2017). She will be missed dearly by her family; son Juho Timothy (Bobbi); daughter Katherine Virpi-Marjaana; grandchildren Nicholas Adam, Amanda May, Juho Tomas, and Noah Brayden; nieces Wendy Murtomaki, Caroline Kavaloff, Caitlin Murtomaki; nephews Aaro and Andrew Murtomaki; and many other relatives and friends in Canada, Finland, and the USA.
Marja-Leena was born in Tampere, Finland on July 12, 1941, and immigrated with her family to Canada in October of 1957. Leena went to college in Toronto to become a hairdresser, graduating in June of 1965 before going on to work at her family’s shop on Algoma Street.
On October 27th of 1961 Marja-Leena married Juho “Jussi” Maenpaa, our dear Pappa and father. They lived together across Ontario, moving from Port Arthur to Toronto to Terrace Bay to Red Rock before settling down in what would become Thunder Bay. In the late 1960s they bought land on Dog Lake to build our two neighboring family camps, which are still in use today. They loved experiencing the wide world together, whether walking at Boulevard Lake and the marina with a picnic lunch or taking the family on trips across Canada, the USA, or back to Finland to visit.
In the 1970s Marja-Leena retired from hairdressing to welcome two children into the world, Tim and Kathy. She was a very devoted mother and always had time to sit and talk or play cards.
In the early 1980s she got back into hairdressing, opening a small shop in her basement where she worked part time. She also spent time as a personal support worker in the years before her retirement.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s she was blessed with four grandchildren who she loved deeply. She loved spending time with her family whether in person or over the phone, and would talk for hours if given the opportunity. She enjoyed music, dancing, thunderstorms, and going to concerts at the auditorium.
Mummu kept the family together through spirited debates and lively discussions. She was tenacious, devoted, and demonstrated her love for her family through her actions every day.
Marja-Leena was predeceased by her parents Maria and Arvo Murtomaki, her brother Arnold Murtomaki, sisters-in-law Diane and Susan Murtomaki.
A private funeral service will be held at Riverside Cemetery.
EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley St entrusted with the arrangements.
Please sign the Online Condolences at everestofthunderbay.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marja-Leena Maenpaa Murtomaki Thursday April 8th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Thunder Bay, Province: Ontario