Sylvia Heikkinen
1926 – 2009

SOUTH PARIS — Sylvia Sivia Kuvaja Heikkinen, 82, died quietly July 2, at Market Square Health Care Center.

She was born in Richardson Hollow in Greenwood, on Dec. 27, 1926, the daughter of Peter and Esteri Kuvaja. She attended school in Greenwood. She married Matti V. Heikkinen on Dec. 25, 1954, and he predeceased her on Oct. 3, 2002.

They moved to a small farm in Hebron in 1956, and spent the rest of their married life there. She worked at Hebron Academy as a housekeeper for more than 20 years, until she retired in 1991. Being involved in 4-H as a youngster instilled in her a love of sewing and she made her own dresses. She also loved to read, do puzzles, garden, raise flowers and make nisu for family and church gatherings.

She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in South Paris and a charter member of the Finnish-American Heritage Society in Maine. However, poor health and immobility prevented her from attending in the later years. Like her husband, Matti, she was extremely proud of her Finnish heritage and
traveled to Finland several times.

She is survived by her two children, Thomas of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Ann Heikkinen Fernald of Frenchboro; her older sister, Fannie Polvinen of Victorian Villa in Canton; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by an infant sister, Helen; and brothers, Waino, Alpo, Vilho and Eino.

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