Lee Ann “Andy” (Bookman) Nurmenniemi, 66, of Franklin, died peacefully at her home surrounded by her husband and daughters on October 17th. She was the loving wife of Reino A. Nurmenniemi for the past 47 years.
She stood five foot 10, with beautiful red hair, green eyes and a grin that could light up the world. When provoked, she also came equipped with a side-eye that could cut you like a welder’s torch cutting through steel.
Did we mention she could be stubborn? We should mention she could be stubborn.
Her passion was her family, whom she nurtured, loved, molded, fed, guided and protected, never letting them doubt that she loved them with a gentle fierceness but also that she was keeping an eye on them, so don’t try anything.
Born in Plymouth, July 24, 1958, the daughter of Barbara E. (Halunen) Bookman of Kingston and the late Julian J. Bookman, Lee Ann was the daughter of military parents and lived in various locations in her lifetime. She met the love of her life, Reino, in Germany. They fell in love in a two-week courtship, which was followed by a trans-Atlantic separation of almost a year, during which they kept their love alive by mail and long-distance telephone calls.
Lee Ann and Reino married in 1977 and raised their three daughters in Quincy, moving to Franklin after her cancer diagnosis 2 years ago to be close to family.
Her husband Reino was her soulmate, and Lee Ann took deep care in ensuring that their love came first, always. Lee Ann’s calling in life was no doubt motherhood. She felt such pride in her daughters and the careers they each chose, nursing and teaching. Once her daughters were independently grown, she found great purpose and fulfillment in working as a teacher’s aide with special needs children at Squantum Elementary School in Quincy.
Lee Ann loved to create color and beauty in her gardening. She also loved to cook and make special deliveries of home-cooked food to her daughters’ families. Above all, Lee Ann’s warmest affections and greatest joy were felt in the presence of her beloved grandchildren.
In addition to her husband Reino and mother Barbara, she is survived by her children, Elsa Schlieman and her husband William of Franklin, AnnaLee Weatherbee and her husband Tate of Hanover, and Katrina Burkhardt and her husband Nate of Franklin. She’ll continue to watch over her grandchildren Nathan, Savannah, Julian, Emma and Wesley.
Lee Ann is also survived by her brothers, Jay Scott Bookman of Atlanta, Georgia and Alan Bookman of Spring Branch, Texas. She will be greatly missed by her chosen sisters, nieces, and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to the Autism Alliance of Massachusetts https://autismalliance.org/. autismalliance.org
Arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin ginleyfuneralhomes.com