Obituary for Mrs. Alli Marjatta Rantala (Pohjoispaa)
Alli Rantala went peacefully home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, February 14, 2021.
Alli was born in Vimpeli, Finland on April 23, 1929. She moved to Timmins, Ontario, Canada in 1951 where her Seta, Jaakko Pohjoispaa was working. She met her lifelong friends Ilona and Viola, while working in a bush camp as a cooks helper.
In 1955, Alli moved to Port Arthur, Ontario, where she worked at the Prince Arthur Hotel. She met her husband, Walter while living on Ontario Street. They married on December 29, 1956 and raised their family first on Shipley Street and then in the home Walter built on Robinson Drive.
Alli loved caring for her home and four children by preparing many traditional Finnish foods. Her children and guests enjoyed mojakka, pulla, graham bread and rice pudding as well as many others. Her only failure as a cook was the occasional meal of Canadian fish sticks. (She herself hated fish) which she always overcooked. She supplied her family with warm knitted tossu and sukka well into her eighties.
Alli enjoyed singing in the Oras Ladies Choir and Bethel Lutheran Church Choir for many years.
As a youth in Finland, Alli was an avid cross country skier and won a second place award. She was a passionate sports fan, especially Finnish Hockey and Vimpeli Vetos Baseball, who she proudly got to see win in 2010, 2016 and 2017. She was so very proud of Paavo Nurmi, “The Flying Finn”, who she would tear up over and other Finnish Olympians' accomplishments.
We all knew her “bear stories” that she loved to tell, from the bush camp and Robinson Drive by heart, yet enjoyed her telling them one more time.
Later at 52 years old when Alli's husband, Walter went to be with the Lord, she worked as a cleaner first at the Munro Motel and then at Confederation College until her retirement.
Alli will lovingly be remembered by her three sons, Erick (Sharon), Terry (Patti) and Randy (Lori); and her daughter, Patsy Rantala (John Costa). She will be missed by her grandchildren, Ryan Costa, Alyssa Rantala, Jai Rantala, Barry Arklie (of Winnipeg), Stu Grobelny (Christina and daughters Lily and Gabriella), Leah Rantala (of St. Catharines) and Jared Rantala (of Guelph). Also loved by her little sister Aila and her husband, John Poystila and their children; as well as many other nieces and nephews, both in Finland and Canada.
Alli was predeceased by her husband Walter E. Rantala; her parents and numerous brothers and sisters, both in Finland and in Canada.
Funeral services will be held privately at EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma, on February 19, 2021 with the Reverend Jari Lahtinen officiating. Interment in Riverside Cemetery. Funeral services can be viewed on the Everest website beginning Saturday, February 20, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lutheran Community Care Centre would be appreciated.
Jesus said unto her,
“I am the resurrection, and the life. He that Believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live”
John 11:25
As directed by the Province of Ontario and the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, the attendance at the funeral is restricted to 30% capacity or less and a record of attendance must be maintained. Wearing of masks or face coverings by everyone and maintaining social distancing of 6 feet is mandatory for those attending the services.
Alli was born in Vimpeli, Finland on April 23, 1929. She moved to Timmins, Ontario, Canada in 1951 where her Seta, Jaakko Pohjoispaa was working. She met her lifelong friends Ilona and Viola, while working in a bush camp as a cooks helper.
In 1955, Alli moved to Port Arthur, Ontario, where she worked at the Prince Arthur Hotel. She met her husband, Walter while living on Ontario Street. They married on December 29, 1956 and raised their family first on Shipley Street and then in the home Walter built on Robinson Drive.
Alli loved caring for her home and four children by preparing many traditional Finnish foods. Her children and guests enjoyed mojakka, pulla, graham bread and rice pudding as well as many others. Her only failure as a cook was the occasional meal of Canadian fish sticks. (She herself hated fish) which she always overcooked. She supplied her family with warm knitted tossu and sukka well into her eighties.
Alli enjoyed singing in the Oras Ladies Choir and Bethel Lutheran Church Choir for many years.
As a youth in Finland, Alli was an avid cross country skier and won a second place award. She was a passionate sports fan, especially Finnish Hockey and Vimpeli Vetos Baseball, who she proudly got to see win in 2010, 2016 and 2017. She was so very proud of Paavo Nurmi, “The Flying Finn”, who she would tear up over and other Finnish Olympians' accomplishments.
We all knew her “bear stories” that she loved to tell, from the bush camp and Robinson Drive by heart, yet enjoyed her telling them one more time.
Later at 52 years old when Alli's husband, Walter went to be with the Lord, she worked as a cleaner first at the Munro Motel and then at Confederation College until her retirement.
Alli will lovingly be remembered by her three sons, Erick (Sharon), Terry (Patti) and Randy (Lori); and her daughter, Patsy Rantala (John Costa). She will be missed by her grandchildren, Ryan Costa, Alyssa Rantala, Jai Rantala, Barry Arklie (of Winnipeg), Stu Grobelny (Christina and daughters Lily and Gabriella), Leah Rantala (of St. Catharines) and Jared Rantala (of Guelph). Also loved by her little sister Aila and her husband, John Poystila and their children; as well as many other nieces and nephews, both in Finland and Canada.
Alli was predeceased by her husband Walter E. Rantala; her parents and numerous brothers and sisters, both in Finland and in Canada.
Funeral services will be held privately at EVEREST FUNERAL CHAPEL, 299 Waverley Street at Algoma, on February 19, 2021 with the Reverend Jari Lahtinen officiating. Interment in Riverside Cemetery. Funeral services can be viewed on the Everest website beginning Saturday, February 20, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Lutheran Community Care Centre would be appreciated.
Jesus said unto her,
“I am the resurrection, and the life. He that Believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live”
John 11:25
As directed by the Province of Ontario and the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, the attendance at the funeral is restricted to 30% capacity or less and a record of attendance must be maintained. Wearing of masks or face coverings by everyone and maintaining social distancing of 6 feet is mandatory for those attending the services.