Diorite Loc. – Lillian S. (Hannuksela) Vahamaa, age 88, longtime Diorite Loc. resident passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side, on Thursday November 5, 2009 at the Eastwood Nursing Center where she had resided for the past 4 years.

Lilly was born November 18, 1920 in Diorite Loc. the daughter of the late John and Sanna (Koskinen) Korpi. She grew up in Diorite and was a 1940 graduate of the Ishpeming High School. She was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church, and the Marquette Co. Humane Society.

Lilly loved animals, especially cats, and at her home near Diorite, she liked to feed the birds and plant beautiful flowers outdoors in the summer and more recently fed and watched the birds outside her window at the nursing home. She was a sports enthusiast, enjoying listening to and watching the Westwood Patriots and Ishpeming Hematites football and basketball games, the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Tigers Baseball, along with following Northern Michigan University and University of Michigan sports programs. Lilly other hobbies included embroidery, listening to country music, and watching Finland Calling. While at Eastwood, Lilly joined the many activities they had for their residents, including her favorites of making dog biscuits for granddog "Murphy", when he came to visit, and playing BINGO.

Survivors include a son Paul Hannuksela of Marquette, 2 daughters – Marlene (Phillip) Ombrello of Diorite Loc. and Diana (fiancé Paul Blemberg) Bennett of Marquette, 3 grandchildren – Scott Spencer, Jon (Darcie) Spencer, and Jeffrey Koval, 3 great grandchildren – Alec, Madison and Carter Spencer, 2 special sisters-in-law – Elsie Hooper and Martha McGregor, one special former daughter-in-law Judy Spencer, along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband Reino "Hannu" Hannuksela in 1963, her second husband Reino "Shorty" Vahamaa in 1995, along with two brothers Reino and Charles and three sisters Ellen, Martha and Aune.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 2pm until 3pm on Saturday Nov. 7, 2009 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Ishpeming where funeral services will be held at 3:00pm with the Rev. Lauri O. Maki to officiate. Interment will take place at the Ishpeming Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Bethel Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, the Marquette Co. Humane Society, or the Eastwood Nursing Center Activities Dept., in Lilly's memory.

The family would like to thank the staff of Eastwood Nursing Center for their care and concern for Lilly in her final days and throughout her four year stay.