At age 97, Salme passed away peacefully with family and friends beside her
at her home at the Water Tower Lodge in Barry’sBay. Dear mother (Ema) of
Pia-Leena (Tom Smith) of Barry’s Bay, Marika-Ly (Garry McKenzie) of Yamba,
Australia, and mother to Marianne Surén (Gösta) and her family of Upplands-
Väsby, Sweden. Very proud grandmother of Elena Marika and Hailey Martina
Voorand of Barry’s Bay; and grandmother/great grandmother to extended
families in Newfoundland and Alberta. Last remaining aunt to families in
Estonia. Predeceased by her husband Artur of St Catharines and later, her
partner Paul Jaanson of Buffalo, New York.
Salme was born on a farm by the Baltic Sea in Hara, Estonia and fled to
Sweden when she was 23 during the upheaval of the Second World War. She
became a talented weaver and artist and brought these skills to Canada in
1950 along with her husband and first child. She settled in St Catharines as
a homemaker and weaver for the next 51 years. She was proud to become a
Canadian and enjoyed the richness of the Estonian culture in southern Ontario.
Eight years ago, she decided to sell her home and move to Barry’s Bay to join
her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters where she was able to participate
in their family life. Salme’s sense of humour , creativity, generosity and caring
will be missed by all of her family and friends.
A very special thank you to the staff of the Water Tower Lodge, the
Champlain home support team, the MV Hospice Palliative Care team, Bishop
Michael Bird, Dr. Chen,and the Heubner Funeral Home for all of their
professional care and compassion. A heartfelt thank you to our dear friend
Eileen Leslie for being right by Pia’s side during her mother’s last days.
Visitation will be on Sunday, December 9th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at
the Heubner Funeral Home. A candle light memorial service will be held on
Monday, December 10th at the Anglican Church of the Epiphany at 5:00 pm
with a reception to follow. Internment of her ashes will be at a later date in St.
Catharines.
Donations can be made payable to the Estonian Foundation of Canada to
support and preserve Estonian culture and heritage across Canada.
www.estonianfoundation.ca