Lived a beautiful life of faith and love
Published March 18, 2021
NORTH READING — Kaarina “Kirsti” (Isotalo) Wuorinen, of North Reading, passed away on March 11, 2021 at the age of 90. Kaarina was born in Joutseno, Finland, on July 5, 1930.
She was the beloved wife of the late Tauno K. Wuorinen and the loving mother of Erika K. Pothanszky and her husband Andrew of Monroe, Conn.; Anna K. Heil and her husband Robert of Plaistow, N.H., and the late Philip K. Wuorinen.
She was the devoted daughter of the late Aarne Anton Isotalo and Anna (Keranen) Isotalo and the dear sister of the late Raili Isotalo. She was the cherished grandmother of Elena Karina, Andrew Thomas, Anita Grace and Peter Owen Pothanszky, Thomas Philip Wuorinen, and Aria Karlee Heil. She was the dear sister-in-law of Valentina Wuorinen.
Kaarina had many adventurous stories of her childhood in Finland. Life was filled with many happy times, but there were also difficulties, such as the loss of her father when she was only 6. Despite losing him so young she had many fond memories of him as a loving, protective father and man of faith. During the Winter War (1939 – 1940) Kaarina, her sister Raili, and their mother were evacuated (along with about 12 percent of the population of Finland) from the Karjala (Karelia) region. At the end of their multi-day box car journey, they re-settled in Pori, Finland where her mother found work, and despite hardship and challenge, she was able to keep the family together.
Kaarina was an excellent student and was recommended by her teachers to pursue the teaching profession. She completed her higher education at the University of Helsinki and became a language teacher in the Finnish public school system specializing in teaching Swedish among other languages.
Kaarina met her husband, Tauno, while he was visiting relatives and friends in Finland. They married in Finland and then moved to the United States, settling in Cambridge, Mass. After their children were born, Kaarina and Tauno moved their family to North Reading in the early 1970s. Mothering and taking care of the family became Kaarina’s priority. Faith and love for Jesus was central to her life and she instilled that in her family and shared that faith as a Sunday School teacher at Calvary Christian Church where she taught Sunday School for 40 years.
During Kaarina’s older years she poured her love and attention into her grandchildren. Kaarina also loved music (playing guitar and singing), was talented in drawing, loved gardening (especially roses), knitting, reading and animals! She lived a beautiful life of faith and love. She was an amazing woman in every respect and will be greatly missed and forever remembered by her family, friends and neighbors.
Relatives and friends were invited to attend her funeral services at the Calvary Christian Church, Lynnfield, on Wednesday, March 17. Visiting hours were held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. Interment was held at Riverside Cemetery, North Reading.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kaarina’s memory may be made to Calvary Christian Church for Children’s Ministry, 47 Grove St., Lynnfield, MA 01940. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit: www.cotafuneralhome.com.
