Dolores Irene Heikkila (Kujansuu)

Heikkila (Kujansuu), Dolores Irene

Wife of the late Arne E. Heikkila, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 while in Hospice care. Dolores, or lovingly known as "Dodo" was born on March 29, 1930 in Hancock, MI. She graduated from Houghton High School in 1948 and then went onto St. Joseph's School of Nursing where she received her RN degree. She has lived at Vista Grande Villa for 16 years. Her loving heart and spirit of kindness will be remembered by us all. Mrs. Heikkila was the daughter of Elma and William Kujansuu, and sister of Barbara Schultz (Albert), Charlotte Vanhala (Frederick), Glenn Kujansuu (Daya), and James Kujansuu (Elaine). Married Aug. 30, 1958, she celebrated 50 years of marriage to Arne Heikkila. She is mother to Trudie Goff (Richard) of Herndon, VA. She is grandmother to Emily Goff and Lydia Goff of Herndon, VA and step grandmother to Erin Blank of Downer's Grove, IL.

She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Jackson, MI for 37 years participating in and leading Bible studies, serving communion to shut ins, collecting bags for their food pantry and most recently was involved in the "Pennies for Wells" project which she loved. She also collected bags while at Vista Grande Villa for the food pantry at Immanuel and called herself "the bag lady." She continued to ride her blue Schwinn bike around Vista Grande Villa until she was 80, and was known as the "bike lady."

She was an indelible spirit, with a loving heart, an infectious laugh and an ever ready smile, who had a gift for making and keeping friends and was an inspiration to all around her. She was a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews. And there was nothing that she loved more than being a grandma to Emily and Lydia. She wrote stories and plays that she loved to share with small groups. She was honored to serve communion to shut ins and enjoyed going to the Care Center at Vista to visit the lonely and share a smile and a story. She had an uncanny gift for hospitality and enjoyed cooking, and especially sharing meals at her kitchen table with groups of friends and family.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 2. 2018 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Jackson, Michigan at 1:00 PM. A light lunch will be served after the service.

Instead of flowers, contributions to the following charities would be appreciated.

1. Foodbank of South Central Michigan

5451 Wayne Road

Battle Creek, MI 49037 https://www.foodbankofscm.org/

If you want to donate to the Food Bank, please note that our account number is J2270. We want you to know that the pantry pays no rent or salaries. 100% goes to purchase food!

2. Immanuel Lutheran Church 1505 W Michigan Ave, Jackson, MI 49202

3. Southern Care Hospice http://www.southerncarehospice.com/donate