Anna Lisa Lassila, 93

FITCHBURG - Anna Lisa Lassila, 93, known as Lisa or G-G by all those close to her, died at home on Saturday. She leaves sons Alan, Don and Rich, Don’s wife, Gail, grandson Adam - all of Fitchburg - and many more friends and family who love her dearly.

Lisa was a remarkable woman who cared deeply about all those around her and never hesitated to do everything she could for them - or to tell them exactly what she thought of what they were doing. The daughter of Finnish immigrants Gustav and Anna Elin Stenstrom, she worked hard from a young age in a dental office, the Fitchburg High cafeteria, the homes that she cleaned, as president of the PTA and the Fitchburg Senior Booster Club, and in the barns of the family chicken business. She also administered that business, as her husband, Oiva, had his own job. But she worked hardest of all raising her three sons and her grandson, after his mother’s death. She cooked, she cleaned, and she carted these boys to a thousand sports events. She loved them intensely, and was proud of and worried about them until her final day.

She became a sports fan to be able to share the experience with all these boys, and boy did it stick. She loved the Red Sox and BC basketball and football. She’d be thrilled to know Papi hit his 500th on the day she passed. Sharp as a tack through her whole life, she also administered the family football and basketball pools until last week.

As a girl, she loved ice skating at Burbank Hospital pond and the movies on Main St. Her talkative nature gave her a large social circle from youth into her late years, when she loved the gatherings of young people who would come to join her for card games. She found another family she loved dearly among the staff and patients at Summit Elder Care, to whom she made sure we’d express her extreme gratitude.

Her family and friends will forever remember her love, her vigor, and the example she gave of how very important it is to care for each other.

Lisa also leaves a niece, Sandy Knight, of Columbia, S.C., and two nephews, Eric Stenstrom, of Charlotte, N.C., and Steven Lassila, of Dennis, Mass.
There will be no calling hours and the graveside service will be at a later date. Donations in her honor can be made to the Activities Fund at Summit Elder Care, 55 Cinema Blvd. Leominster, MA 01453 or the Crocker Field Restoration Committee, Attn: Treasurer, 140 Arn How Farm Rd. Fitchburg, MA 01420.