Obituary
Republic – Hulda Maria (Maki) Heilala, age 97, former Republic resident, entered eternal life on June 30, 2009 at the Mather Nursing Center in the comforting care of the caregivers at Mather and UP Health and Hospice. She had been in ill health for 2 years.
Hulda was born on August 17, 1911 in Republic, the daughter of Henry and Kate (Sirtola) Maki. She married George Heilala in 1934 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming with the Rev. Hugo Hillila officiating. He passed away in 1938. She was a homemaker and a life long resident of Republic, also being the oldest living resident and member of Bethany Lutheran Church. In her younger days she was known as the best potato picker, picking more than 100 bushels a day.
Survivors include her daughter: Betty (Ronald) Heikkinen of Ishpeming, 6 grandchildren: Marie (Clyde) Sellers of Medford, OR, Sharon (Ken) Atkins of Republic, Jayne (William) Hoffert of Medford, OR, Nancy (Donald) Blair of Paoli, IN, Kathy Marietti of Ishpeming, James Marietti of Ishpeming, 14 great grandchildren, Kelly, Kristen, Jessica, Michael, Cassie, Christopher, Connor, Collin, Richard, Joshua, Savannah, Jason, Rick, and Patrick, 7 great-great grandchildren: Johnna, Corey, Andrew, Angel Ann, Annabelle, Hanna, and Talon, a niece Nancy (Robert) Kerkela of Republic, 3 nephews: Eugene (Janet) Vadnais or Menominee, James (Carol) Vadnais of Ishpeming, and Wayne (Sherry) Vadnais of Republic.
Hulda was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, daughter Ruth Marietti, infant daughter Joyce Lillian, 2 granddaughters: Ruth Smith and Dona Jean Tait, and her husband Stuart, great grandson Corey Manier, sister Tyyne Vadnais, brothers: John, Walter and Waino of Republic, and a nephew William. She also leaves one sister-in-law Patricia Kaleva and brother-in-law: Melvin Kaleva of Garden City, MI, and many great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 6, 2009 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Republic at 11:00AM with Rev. Katherine Finnegan officiating. The family will greet friends and relatives from 10:00AM until the time of services at the church. Interment will take place in the Republic Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Bethany Lutheran Church at 110 Poplar St. Republic, MI 49879.
Hulda was born on August 17, 1911 in Republic, the daughter of Henry and Kate (Sirtola) Maki. She married George Heilala in 1934 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming with the Rev. Hugo Hillila officiating. He passed away in 1938. She was a homemaker and a life long resident of Republic, also being the oldest living resident and member of Bethany Lutheran Church. In her younger days she was known as the best potato picker, picking more than 100 bushels a day.
Survivors include her daughter: Betty (Ronald) Heikkinen of Ishpeming, 6 grandchildren: Marie (Clyde) Sellers of Medford, OR, Sharon (Ken) Atkins of Republic, Jayne (William) Hoffert of Medford, OR, Nancy (Donald) Blair of Paoli, IN, Kathy Marietti of Ishpeming, James Marietti of Ishpeming, 14 great grandchildren, Kelly, Kristen, Jessica, Michael, Cassie, Christopher, Connor, Collin, Richard, Joshua, Savannah, Jason, Rick, and Patrick, 7 great-great grandchildren: Johnna, Corey, Andrew, Angel Ann, Annabelle, Hanna, and Talon, a niece Nancy (Robert) Kerkela of Republic, 3 nephews: Eugene (Janet) Vadnais or Menominee, James (Carol) Vadnais of Ishpeming, and Wayne (Sherry) Vadnais of Republic.
Hulda was preceded in death by her parents, husband George, daughter Ruth Marietti, infant daughter Joyce Lillian, 2 granddaughters: Ruth Smith and Dona Jean Tait, and her husband Stuart, great grandson Corey Manier, sister Tyyne Vadnais, brothers: John, Walter and Waino of Republic, and a nephew William. She also leaves one sister-in-law Patricia Kaleva and brother-in-law: Melvin Kaleva of Garden City, MI, and many great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 6, 2009 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Republic at 11:00AM with Rev. Katherine Finnegan officiating. The family will greet friends and relatives from 10:00AM until the time of services at the church. Interment will take place in the Republic Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Bethany Lutheran Church at 110 Poplar St. Republic, MI 49879.
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