I. Irene Vilakari, 92

Fitchburg, MA- I. Irene Vilakari, 92, died on Monday, October 20^th, at her home.  Miss Vilakari was born in Helsinki, Finland, on April 1, 1922, the third of three daughters to John Vilakari and Ida Makinen Vilakari.

In July of 1947, Miss Vilakari first came to the United States with her sisters, Vieno and Miriam, on temporary visas.  They lived in Boston and worked for the Harvard University Press.  When their visas expired in August of 1948, the girls were obligated to return to Finland to wait their turn to immigrate to the U.S.

After two and one half years, Miss Vilakari and her sisters were granted the opportunity to return to the United States and became naturalized citizens within five years of their arrival.  They settled in Fitchburg and soon found employment as newspaper linotype operators for The Sentinel. Miss Vilakari enjoyed her work with The Sentinel for many years until her retirement in 1987.

She was an active member of the local Finnish-American community and enjoyed affiliations with the Finnish-American Golden Agers Club, the Finnish-American Cultural Center, The Finnish Center at Saima Park and the Good News Fellowship of the Elm Street Congregational Church, among other cultural interests.

Her passions included painting, knitting, sewing and singing.  Indeed, she would often sing with her sisters and others at cultural events and parties.  She especially enjoyed singing hymns during church services.

Miss Vilakari was predeceased by her parents and sisters and is survived by many loved ones, Merit and Paul Mailloux of Fitchburg, Chris Mailloux and Kate McKenney of Brighton, MA, Jessica, Gerry and Bianca Tuoti of Waltham, MA,  Meria Hanslin of Charlestown, RI, and Mark, Suzy, Tom, Brian and Sarah Hanslin of  Allendale, NJ.  Her smile and sunny disposition will surely be missed by all.

Funeral services will be held at the Elm Street Congregational Church of Fitchburg on Saturday, October 25^th.  A visitation will begin at 1:00 PM followed by a service at 2:00 PM and interment at the Forest Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Elm Street Congregational Church. 

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