BEVERLY: Sylvia M. (Hietala) Oakes, 71, formerly of Gloucester, passed early Thursday morning, June 21, 2007 surrounded by family and friends. She was the wife of James M. Oakes.
Born in Gloucester on July 4, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Emil and Aili (Tuomivirta) Hietala. Sylvia was a graduate of Rockport High School, class of 1953. She resided in the Pigeon Cove area of Rockport until her marriage in October 1955. She spent the next forty-nine years in Gloucester. Sylvia was a homemaker, and when her youngest child was in high school, went to work for K&M Business Associates and later the Patio Restaurant as a bookkeeper. She led an active life and shared many hobbies and activities with her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling, reading, sewing, fine needle-point and especially ceramics, which she shared with her close friends, Stella Byard and Carlye Davis.
In addition to her husband of fifty-one years, she is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Julie A. Connolly of Hudson, NH and Susan E. and James M. Doody of Beverly, three sons, James M. Oakes, Richard W. Oakes, companion of Kathy Salaccia and Timothy R. and his wife, Jennifer (Skarr) Oakes all of Gloucester, ten grandchildren, Elizabeth, Christopher, Daniel and Kellianne Connolly, Erin and Matthew Doody, Emily, Madison, Delaney and Gabrielle Oakes and a great-granddaughter, Camryn Carrier. She is also survived by an uncle, Armas “Koki” Tuomivirta, a sister-in-law, Marguerite McEachern both of Gloucester, a special cousin, Lana Mogan of Nahant and many nieces and nephews.
Her funeral services will be held on Monday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday afternoon from 1 – 4 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Brain Tumor Research Center, c/o Mass General Hospital Development Office, 165 Cambridge St., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery.