Helen Julia Karsama

HOUGHTON

Helen Julia Karsama, 86, a resident of the Bluffs in Houghton, who returned to the area after 20 years of retirement in Florida, died at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility in Hancock, on ­­­­­Sunday, July 2, 2017.

She was born Helen J. Pesola on May 29, 1931, to Arvo and Lydia (Moilanen) Pesola of Elo. She attended the John A. Doelle School and graduated from Hancock Central High School.

In May of 1950, she married Gordon Karsama and they resided and raised their family in Elo. He preceded her in death in September of 1977.

Helen held various employments, including Michigan Bell, Pelkie Co-op, Tapiola Co-op, Celotex and the Houghton County Medical Facility where she retired as a nurse’s aide in 1995.

Helen enjoyed bowling, tending to her flower gardens, playing piano and playing cards and board games with family and friends. She enjoyed assisting in raising her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Michigan and Florida.

Besides her parents and husband, Helen was also preceded in death by a son, Keith; daughter-in-law, Alice (Pouttu) Karsama; brothers, Raymond, Gordon, Arvo, Albert, Walter, Aale and Kenny; as well as sisters, Rosella, Ruth, Maida and Shirley. Helen is survived by her children, Roger Karsama of Elo; daughter, Robin Karsama Padilla of Plantation, Florida; son-in-law, Richard Padilla; sister, Esther Juntunen of Tapiola; brother, Arnold Pesola of Tapiola; grandchildren, Adrienne Loyd of Appleton, Eric Karsama of Brussels, Belgium; Alec Karsama of Detroit, Clark and Melissa Padilla of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; great-grandchildren, Winter and Jaxon Loyd and Liam Padilla; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, 2017, at the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home of Hancock, with Minister William Michaelson to officiate. Visitation will be 1hour prior to the service on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Elo Cemetery. Arrangements are being handled by Antila Funeral Service, Inc.