Remembering Ellen
Ellen Holmi
June 23, 1936 - June 9, 2024
Visitation & Celebration of Life
Saturday, July 6, 2024
Visitation: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Celebration of Life Service: 12:00 p.m.
Luncheon to follow at the church.
Atonement Lutheran Church
S70W16244 Martin Dr, Muskego, WI 53150
Obituary
Ellen Rachel Holmi (nee Palomaki)Passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 9th, 2024, at the age of 87, after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Toivo John Holmi, and her children Ruth Laszewski (Todd), Douglas Holmi (Krista), and Peter Holmi (Anne). She is further survived by her grandchildren Sarah Laszewski, Krista Rose Laszewski, Louisa Holmi, Annelise Holmi, Eric Holmi, and Laura Holmi.
She was preceded in death by her father Arnold Palomaki, her mother Sallie Palomaki, her twin sister Ruth Maki (Rudy), and her younger sister Sally Paine (Raymond).
Family meant everything to Ellen. In addition to being a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother, Ellen had many interests and activities throughout her rich life. In particular, Ellen was extremely proud of her Finnish heritage, which she loved to share with her family. Being a proud member of the Finnish American Society for many years, Ellen and Toivo especially enjoyed participating in the Milwaukee Holiday Folk Fair, where they spent many hours working at the Finnish booth, decked out in traditional Finnish costumes and sharing stories with others of many aspects of Finnish culture. Probably one of her favorite activities was performing traditional Finnish folk dances, at times dancing in front of hundreds of spectators. Of course, Ellen loved to prepare traditional Finnish foods for special occasions: it just wouldn’t be Christmas without Grandma Ellen’s Finnish Coffee Bread (Pulla) and homemade Finnish Squeaky Cheese.
Ellen also had a very successful career as a Registered Nurse (RN), receiving her training at St. Luke’s Nursing School in Marquette MI, with further training in Labor and Delivery in Detroit. After marrying Toivo John in August, 1958, they started out in Flint MI, where Ellen worked at McLaren General Hospital in Flint. Then upon relocating to the Milwaukee area about a year later, Ellen began working in Labor and Delivery at Columbia Hospital in Milwaukee, later moving to West Allis Hospital where she spent most of her nursing career. Then, she made a slight career change when she began working as a Rehab Nurse for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
Ellen also had many other interests, such as her involvement at Atonement Lutheran Church in Muskego where she volunteered and participated in a number of ways. Ellen also loved knitting and sewing; she was an expert with the sewing machine, making clothes for her family and passing along her love of sewing to her children and grandchildren. Ellen also loved the arts, not only attending countless choir concerts and theater productions, but also volunteering for many years as an usher at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.
We would like to thank the staff and caregivers at the Hales Corners Care Center where Ellen received excellent care as a resident the past 9 ½ years. Also, we would like to thank the hospice caregivers at St. Luke’s Hospital in Milwaukee (Sandy, Allie, Ryan, and Mallory) where Ellen spent her final days in peace and comfort. You are all angels for the work you do providing comfort and care for patients daily. Thank you!
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Ellen at Atonement Lutheran Church (S70W16244 Martin Dr, Muskego, WI 53150) on Saturday, July 6th, 2024. Visitation begins at 11am, with the Celebration of Life Service at Noon, and a luncheon to follow at the church. No need to wear all black; Ellen would have preferred bright cheery colors to celebrate her life!
Rest in peace, Grandma; we all love you.
Memorial Gift
Memorials in Ellen’s name may be sent to either the Scoliosis Research Society (srs.org) or the International Essential Tremor Foundation (essentialtremor.org).