Obituary of Lia Vihvelin

With sadness, the family of Lia (Marandi) Vihvelin announces her passing, which occurred peacefully on April 1. Lia was born in Tallinn, Estonia on May 10, 1922. She attended Tartu University until her medical studies were interrupted by World War II and she was forced to flee from her homeland to Sweden. There, working in a hospital, she met her future husband and love of her life, the late Dr. Hugo Vihvelin, to whom she was married for 57 years. Lia was a devoted mother to her three children. Raising them well was her life's work. At the end of each winter, the growing family moved to their beloved Summer House (the “Metsa Maja”) which became an integral part of who Lia was. There, near the forest and ocean and with her family, she shone. Lia was a lover of literature and of classical music, and a supporter of the arts. To share a good book brought her pure pleasure and reading a well-crafted poem would sweeten her day. Words were important to Lia and she listened to them with her mind and heart. As her children grew older, Lia pursued her keen interest in early childhood development and worked as a teacher for underprivileged children. She cherished the memories from this time and spoke of it often and with great affection. She was a proud Canadian, yet she also held fast to her proud Estonian heritage applauding every stride forward made by Estonians in sports, the arts, politics, and technology. In 1992 Lia returned to Estonia to celebrate its new-found independence and, at last, to see her long-lost relatives and the many places she had cherished there. To mourn her passing Lia leaves behind three children: Kadri (Terrence Tomkow), Peeter (Kathryn), and Tom (Cynthia); seven grandchildren: Nikolai and Alexander Tomkow; Alexandra (Andrew Gough), Jessica (Jamie McConnell), and Hugo (Adrienne Kasdan); and Liisa and Derek (Heejin); and three great grandchildren: Esmé and Hugo McConnell, and Layla Vihvelin. At the request of the family there will be no visitation. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015 from Castle Funeral Home at 2pm with Rev. Eric Phinney officiating. A reception will follow at the Castle “Fallsview” Reception Center. Donations made to the charity of donor’s choice would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.castlefh.com Funeral arrangements are in care of Castle Funeral Home, 309 Lancaster Ave. Saint John, NB, E2M 2L3.