NINA PAULINE SIRKKA
August 7, 1918 – June 10, 2017
Born in Russia in the crucible of revolution, less than a month after the abdication of Tzar Nicholas II, Nina began a charmed life. The early death of her father, Paul Belugin, meant that Nina was transported out of war-torn Russia back to her mother, Ida (Oksa) Belugin’s home in Finland.
Ida was fortunate to bring her daughter to Sudbury, Canada, with the support of her sister Senja Alho. Nina spent some of her growing up years with her cousins, Aune and Leo Alho, and also with the family of a girl who was to become her good friend, Aino (Johnson) Liimatainen, while Ida worked in the railway construction camps.
Nina graduated from Sudbury Tech, where she met Arvo Sirkka, who would become her husband and best friend.
World War II and university studies kept them apart, but toward the end of the War, they married. Arvo always attributed his much improved grades in his final year to the help Nina gave him, typing his notes, and providing a “steadying influence”.
In 1946 two crucial events occurred. Nina gave birth to daughter, Susan, and Arvo hired on with INCO in Sudbury. Arvo’s competence and industry enabled him to provide the resources for Nina to create warm and elegant homes, and for them to add son, Steven, to their family.
Nina joined Arvo on travels and adventures, from pioneering the new INCO mines in Thompson, Manitoba to Arvo’s stint working with CIDA in Botswana. Their leisure time was spent at the camp on Lake Penage, and travelling.
The loss of Arvo in July, 2015, took its toll. Nina died on June 10, 2017.
Nina is survived by daughter, Susan (Douglas) Cassan, son, Steven (Gena) Sirkka and grandchildren Tanisha and Jeremy. She is survived by Arvo’s nephews Ron (Gloria) Sirkka, grandnephews Michael and Jeffery, Don (Judi) Sirkka, grandnephews Stuart, Don Jr. and Douglas. She is also survived by nephew Edward (Brenda) Alho and grandnephew Seth; nieces Lynn (Don) Shushkewich, and Joann (Arthur) Alho-Hawken, grandnephew Richard Alho-Hawken, grandniece, Senja (Vikesh) Kapedia, great-grandnephew Nayan and great-grandnieces Elle and Indra Kapedia.
Please join the family for a celebration of life at Jackson and Barnard Funeral Home, 233 Larch St. Sudbury, on August 7, 2017.
Visitation at 12pm. Service 1pm. Reception following.