Elsa (Elsie) (Wauhkonen) Johnson

Elsa (Elsie) Johnson (nee Wauhkonen)
December 11, 1920 -  April 12, 2018.
Elsie passed away peacefully, with her family by her side, at the Ste. Rose General Hospital in Ste. Rose du Lac, Manitoba. She was 97.
She is lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Dale (Kimm), Kimberley (Brad), Grant (Nicky) and Sandra, great-grandchildren Erik, Hayley, Emma, Beck and Finn, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Melvin (1963), her husband Francis (1992), father Herman (1959), mother Anna (1985), daughter Muriel (2015) and son Robert (2016). She is also predeceased by her eight siblings, Viljo, Aale, Sylvi, Martha, Lempi, Tyyne, Walter and Helvi.
Elsie was born in Grove Park, Saskatchewan, and moved with her family to Meadow Portage, Manitoba at a young age. She raised her family on a farm near Rorketon, Manitoba, and later moved into the town. Elsie spent most of her life farming, gardening, fishing, picking berries, making jam, volunteering, knitting and doing other arts and crafts. She donated countless knitted items to her family and local charities. Elsie spent many summers sharing her cabin on Lake Manitoba with family and friends. She was proud of her Finnish heritage and was the embodiment of "sisu", a unique Finnish term that can be roughly translated into English as strength of will, determination, and perseverance in the face of hardship.  She lived independently her entire life, her later years enriched by the generosity of the community.
A memorial service will be held  on Friday, July 13th at 1:00 pm in the Ridgeway Cemetery in Rorketon, Manitoba.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Ste. Rose Hospital and her home care providers for their care and compassion.
Flowers are gratefully declined.   Donations may be made in Elsie's memory to the Palliative Care Unit of the Ste. Rose Hospital, c/o the Prevost Foundation, Box 60, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB, R0L 1S0 or to a charity of your choice.
 

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