"Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise ..." on February 22, 2019, Taimi Marjatta Silander joined God's heavenly choir after a period of declining health. She was born in Jyvaskyla, Finland, July 30, 1931 the fourth of six children to Rev Kalle & Tyyne Ekonen. She grew up during WW II in Finland. She often shared childhood memories with humor or solemnity, respectful of the occassion. From the mischevious travails with her siblings trying to ride the pigs to the affects of the war. As displaced American citizens, the family returned to the US after WWII and settled in Finnish Harlem.
She was introduced to her future husband, Sulo John Silander of Troy, NH by his aunt and one of the family's landladies in NYC. On April 10, 1954 they were married on Park Avenue in NYC in the church where the Finnish Lutheran community met for services. They were married for forty-three until his passing in 1997.
Music was very much a part of her life. As a child she taught herself to play the piano. She then taught herself to play the organ. Before her marriage, she served as church organist for various Finnish congregations in the NYC area. When she moved to Troy, she sang in the Christ Lutheran Church choir for many years. Later she served as one the church organists. She was always ready to listen to music of any genre.
She had an adverturess spirit. She would fondly recall her father-in-law teaching her to drive when she was expecting her first child. From then on the wheels just kept on turning. She would take a drive for the adventure or just to go have coffee with friends. To her providing transporation for friends for medical treatment or to an airport, was common. Before she retired, she started to traveling more frequently on pleasure trips with groups and farther from home. Two of her fondest trips were to the Mideast following St Paul's travels and to Oberammergau, Germany to the Passion Play. In recent years the highlights of her summer, was the Lake Winnepesauke boat trip sponsored by Breathe NH.
Even sitting still she kept busy. Her knitting needles saw many yards of yarn and produce many projects years, especially her Winter Rose or snowflake mittens.
She is survived by her three children, Taimi (and Mark) Clark, Martha Silander and John Silander; two grandchildren Ian (and Cheryl) Clark and Kierstin Clark (Jordan Peters); her first great granddaughter, Zoey due in June (daughter of Ian & Cheryl); a sister (Toini Lahtinen); brother (George Ekonen) and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, parents and three siblings.
Should you wish to remember her with flowers, the family knows she would wish you to take flower to someone to enjoy now as they are living or a contribution to Breathe NH https://www.breathenh.org/about or Hospice at HCS, PO Box 564, Keene, NH. 03431 or at https://hcsservices.org/hospiceathcs
The family invites you to celebrate her life with them at Christ Lutheran Church, Rt 12, Troy, NH on Thursday, February 28th at 2 pm. "Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend. Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end."
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