GLOUCESTER: Jennie Marie Toikka, 91, passed away on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the Den Mar Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Rockport.
Born in Gloucester on April 12, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Erik and Mary (Lakka) Toikka who emigrated from Finland in 1910.
Jennie was a graduate of Gloucester High School with the class of 1937 and was a lifetime resident of Gloucester. She grew up in Bay View and was the last of the 10 Toikka children.
Jennie retired from LePages after having worked there for 45 years. She was a lifetime member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church of Lanesville and also was a lifetime member of the Disabled Americans Veterans Auxiliary.
She loved to knit, crochet and make jig saw puzzles. Jennie was extremely kind to everyone. She loved to send Hallmark greeting cards for birthdays, or other special events, to all of her friends and family. She loved taking the children to Good Harbor Beach in the summertime and also did a lot of babysitting for all of the children in the family.
She leaves behind four generations of over 130 nieces and nephews. She had a very special niece, Betty Bona Yackels, previously of Acton, who now resides in Bradenton, FL. Betty used to visit Jennie every week, take her out to lunch and do some of her errands. Also, nephews John and his wife, Sandy Lafond of Rockport, Dennis and his wife, Linda Ferrant of Derry, NH, and niece, Sandra “Cookie” Fincel, and grandniece, Linda, and her husband Erik Strong all of Gloucester, just to mention a few, were there when she really needed them. Jennie was predeceased by five sisters, Mary May, Ellen Gunther, Aili Davis, Lillian Ferrant, Elsie Lafond and four brothers, John, Harry, George and Eric Toikka.
Her funeral service will be held on Tuesday morning in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10 – 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the VNA Care Network, Development Office, 5 Federal St., Danvers, MA 01923 or the charity of one's choice. Interment will be held in the Seaside Cemetery, Lanesville.