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November 9, 1918 - November 24, 2018
Bertha Irene Kallio (nee Nayki) passed peacefully from this life in the early hours of November 24th, 2018 with family by her side, just 15 days after her 100th birthday.

Bertha is survived by her seven loving children: Eleanor (Peter) Holuboff, Bruce (Patty) Kallio, Judy Jensen, Gail (Yosh) Kariatsumari, Sylvia (George) Peary, Gwen Kallio, and Monty (Nancy) Kallio, 12 grandchildren and their spouses, 21 great grand-children, nieces and nephews, a large extended family in Canada and Finland, and many friends who affectionately called her grandma or GG. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Matt (d. 1988), her parents Jacob and Ida Nayki (d. 1955), all of her siblings, Fanny, Violet, Vivian, Walter, Laura, and Waino, her granddaughter Kyra Holuboff, son-in-law Soren Jensen, and niece Donna Krupnyk.

Bertha was born on November 9, 1918, just two days before the armistice ending WW1, in White Lake, BC., a Finnish-settled farming community. Her early years were spent on the Nayki farm, marrying Finnish immigrant Matt Kallio in 1938. They lived in Salmon Arm, Golden, Sicamous and Abbotsford while Matt worked and eventually retired from the CPR, raising their large family and sending them off to higher education.

Throughout her remarkable life, Bertha was dedicated to her family and worked hard to provide for her children, to guide and support them in their endeavours. She was quiet, honest, dignified, kind, strong - the epitome of the Finnish word "sisu", a combination of stamina, perseverance, courage, and determination. She was the best mom her kids could have asked for. Bertha was an ardent supporter of social justice politics, and she loved to read, knit, and cheer on her favourite hockey and curling teams. She enjoyed an active, independent and well-lived life into her 90's, with her final years spent in the care of Tabor Court and Menno Home in Abbotsford.

Bertha's family is deeply grateful for her life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared for her, and for the many condolences they have received.

A celebration of her life is scheduled for Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 1:30 pm at Straiton Hall, 4698 Sumas Mountain Road in Abbotsford. Bertha's ashes will be interred with her husband and parents at Mt. Ida Cemetery in Salmon Arm at a to-be-determined date in the spring.

Messages of condolences can be made at www.woodlawnfh-abbotsford.com. 


Woodlawn Funeral Home

Service Details

Celebration of Life
Saturday, January 12, 2019
1:30 PM
Straiton Hall, 4698 Sumas Mountain Road, Abbotsford


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