NORWAY – Laila Irene Suomela, 84, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Stephens Memorial Hospital, after a severe stroke. She was a resident at 241 Norway Center Road for the past 15 years. Prior to that, she and her late husband, Waino, lived at Norway Lake for 35 years.

Born on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, on May 14, 1921, to Finnish immigrants Hjalmar Forsell and Lillian Moilanen, she was orphaned at an early age. She was then adopted by another Finnish immigrant couple, Gust and Aino Alanko of Madison, Ohio. Later, she lived in Greenwood, where she was raised by Helmi Hakala and attended Patch Mountain Elementary School through the eighth grade.

Afterwards, she returned to her parents in Ohio and graduated from Madison High School in 1939. Following high school, she lived in Ohio, Massachusetts and Florida, finally returning to Maine, where she married Waino Suomela in 1946. They lived in North Norway until moving to Norway Lake in 1955.

In the 1960s, Laila began to work for The Advertiser-Democrat, where she was employed for 23 years, until she retired at the age of 65.

In the summer of 1976, after a trip to Finland, she helped form the local chapter of the Finnish-American Heritage Society of Maine. Her intense personal involvement with this organization built and strengthened a broad network of friends locally, nationally and internationally, enriching her life with travel and memories.

Laila was often consulted for Finnish-English translations, helped write monthly newsletters and hosted international musicians at her country home.

Laila is fondly remembered for her generous hospitality, culinary skills, kindness, tolerance, intellect, historical knowledge and her deep appreciation for nature.

She is survived by her sons, Richard of Norway, Michael of Topsham and Walter of Homer, Alaska; and grandchildren Nathan and Raija of Topsham.

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