Obituary of Anna-Liisa Kantovaara

Passed away at the Mauno Kaihla Koti (MKK) on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the age of 97 years. Beloved wife of the late Keijo Kantovaara. Dear mother of Juha Kantovaara (Mary). Grandmother of Victoria Niro (Richard) and Allison Lefave (Brad). Great grandmother of Reese and James. Sister of the late Katri Borg and the late Sirkka Sundberg of Sweden, late Erkki Rask and the late Vilho Pajari of Finland.

Mummo was loved by her family, especially her grandchildren. She will be forever remembered for her mojakka, raspberry kiiseli, puuro, Finnish doughnuts and many other wonderful dishes. Her great humour will never be forgotten, for example “still kicking but not so high” and as well as her profound love of family.

Mummo’s childhood was spent in Kämärä on the Karjalan isthmus with her parents Julius and Katri and her siblings on a farm where they raised milk cows, pigs and other farm animals. They spent their summers picking blueberries barefoot in the forest surrounding their community, swimming in the nearby lake, and having sauna’s every week.

This idyllic life was cut short by the war with the Soviet Union. Their family had to evacuate to Finland proper from their home not once but twice during the period from 1939 to 1944. In the 1944 evacuation Mummo was left in charge of the milk cows because they would not fit on the train that was evacuating the rest of the family and their other livestock. She had to walk barefoot on roads and through the forest and herd the cows as she was harassed by Soviet planes that bombed and strafed her and the cows. She would make the cows go into the woods, hide herself as best she could and once the planes were gone having to find the cows and then herd the cows forward to unoccupied Finland. Mummo would sleep in any available shelter that she could find during the walk and get food from people that had not evacuated yet. She finally made it to a railroad station after many days of walking within Finland and miraculously her father Julius had guessed that she might end up there and they were reunited. After this final evacuation they lost their home and never viewed it again because the area known as Karjala was ceded to the Soviet Union after 1944. Many years later the Finnish government acknowledged the role of these “Shephard Girls and Boys” as a significant contribution to the war effort and provided travel to Finland for medical treatment for those individuals. Mummo was a hero in many ways to the family, this example just being one of them.

Mummo and Keijo decided to emigrate to Canada in 1960 with their son Juha. They came directly to Sault Ste. Marie and built a life with strong bonds to the large Finnish community. Mummo made a living as a janitor at many locations both for families and businesses such as Edgewater Apartments and Weyerhaeuser. Going to camp at Haviland Bay every weekend was a highlight for Mummo where she enjoyed the sauna and swimming in Lake Superior and not having to do all the cooking.

At Anna-Liisa’s request, there will be no visitation or service. A private family celebration of life will be held later. Memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada or to the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.

Special thanks to the staff at the MKK for the love and caring they had for Anna-Liisa. Heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Kotitalo for the years that she lived there. Arrangements entrusted to Northwood Funeral Home Cremation and Reception Centre (942 Great Northern Rd, 705-945-7758).