Helmi D. (Tarkiainen) Lehtola, 91, passed away at the Lutheran Home in Worcester. Her husband of 51 years, Wilho T. Lehtola predeceased her in 1994.
She leaves a son, William Lehtola of Spencer; a daughter and her husband, Louise and Jeffrey Clarke of Worcester; a granddaughter and her husband, Erica and Jaya Boerman of Amherst; and a grandson and his wife, John and Colleen Clarke of Jefferson. She leaves seven great grandchildren, Odin, Finn, Jack, Liam, Sofia, Dylan and Hattie and nieces and nephews. Her six brothers and three sisters predeceased her.
Helmi, also known as Mummo by both family and friends, was born in Worcester, the daughter of Adam and Ida (Ristila) Tarkiainen. She graduated from Commerce High School and worked for Dr. George Deering. She was an avid volunteer in the Heard Street School Mothers' Club, Hadwen Park Church for more than 60 years, the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja, and New Ludlow Street School.
The family thanks the staff at the Lutheran Home for their care over the past four years.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, September 13 at Lindquist Lundin Funeral Home, 36 Butler Street, Worcester. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery.
Suggested charities are the Paul E. Tarkiainen Art Fund at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Suite 650, 370 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 or the Scholarship Fund of the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja, 280 Bailey Road, Holden, MA 01520.