Obituary: Helen Pakkala

As received from the Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Homes:

Elena (Helen)Pakkala, 96, a former resident of Baltic, passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2021, at Portage Pointe in Hancock, her residence since 2019.

She was born on March 10, 1925, in Tamarack City to immigrant parents, the late Amerigo and Luminata (Priami) Bertolini. As a young girl, Helen attended St. Cecilia Catholic School and Dollar Bay High School, where she graduated with the class of 1943. On August 28, 1943, she was united in marriage to Leslie Pakkala, who preceded her in death on June 8, 1998. Helen and Leslie resided in South Range for a short time before making their life-long home in Baltic,where they raised their four children. Helen was a stay-at-home wife and mother until the age of 50, when she went to work for St. Joseph Hospital in Hancock and later Cypress Manor.

Helen was a devoted parishioner of Holy Family Catholic Parish in South Range, a member of the Daughters of Italy and an advocate for Senior Meals and Community Action bussing. Helen enjoyed crocheting, gardening, fishing, and playing guitar. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed walking to church every Sunday for mass. Helen passionately loved her grandchildren and caring for others.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sisters Helen, Pia, Mary and a son-in-law, Frank.

Helen is survived by her children: Gerald (Linda) Pakkala of Dryden, MI

                                                       Peter (Patsy) Pakkala of South Range

                                                       Nancy Szczepanski of Canton, MI

                                                       Susan Rosemurgy of Chassell

She is further survived by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and special friends. Also surviving is her sister Gertrude Rivest of Tamarack City.

The family would like to thank the staff at Portage Pointe for the outstanding care Helen received during her stay there.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am Friday, July 23, 2021, at Holy Family Catholic Church in South Range with Rev. Fr. John Martignon to officiate. Burial will take place in the Mountain View Cemetery in South Range.

Friends may call on Thursday July 22, 2021, from 6 – 8 pm at Mountain View Mortuary in South Range and again on Friday from 10 am until the time of services at the church.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, the family asks that donations be made to Holy Family Catholic Church in South Range in Helen’s memory.

To view this obituary or to send condolences to Helen’s family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel Funeral Home/Mountain View Mortuary is assisting the family with the arrangements.