Mrs. Eini Anita Lilian Ward, age 79 years and a resident of Thunder Bay, Ont, passed away peacefully in the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital Monday August 3rd, 2015 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer.
Eini was born in Port Arthur February 2nd 1936 to Toumas and Lilian Taipalus and was raised in the town of Nipigon, Ont. She had attended George O’Neil public school and then later Nip Rock high school. Somewhere along the line she met the love of her life George who, for all intent and purposes, kept her on her toes for the last 52 years.
Earlier in life, Eini was a personal secretary for the Manager of Domtar Woodlands Division in Nipigon, but once George got the courage to ask her father for her hand and she accepted his proposal, she decided to semi-retire and be a house mother to her two sons; Michael and Clint.
Eini loved the Lutheran church and as such put many hours in playing the organ for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Nipigon and later at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Thunder Bay, where she and George later moved. Eini was extremely active with the LWML and went to many conventions with her Christian sisters which gave her much joy.
As the boys became older Eini felt the need to work again so and she became a bank teller at Bay Credit Union from approximately 1984 to 1998. This employment gave her great pleasure due to the fact that she loved to help other people. Eini was also the secretary treasurer for the Polly Lake Local Roads board for over 30 years.
In her down time she loved to garden whether it was at her mother and fathers place or in her own yard it wasn’t uncommon for her to spend hours puttering in her gardens. She also spent many days at the family cottage on Polly Lake, north of Nipigon, where she enjoyed watching her Humming birds for hours on end with George at her side.
It wasn’t uncommon to see her and George fighting with them darn squirrels out at camp trying to prevent them from eating all the bird seed. Once both she and George retired they became snowbirds who went down south to Arizona every November for the last 20 or so years. There they became friends with many people from many states and of course province’s creating bonds that will never be broken.
Eini will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband George, her son Clint (Lorinda), her grandchildren Jacob (little Man) & Olivia (Princess) and her two granddaughters Autumn and Mikala, her brother in-law Robert (Rory) Ward, her nephew Celito (Karen) Louis, Mia Ward, niece Lianna (Darcy) Emmerson, Tate Bristol, Her uncles Ed and Eino Maki. Her cousin Bob (Shirley) Wasti, cousin Donna (Don) Maki May. She is also survived by many cousins throughout the United States and Finland.
Eini was predeceased by her parents Toumas and Lilian Taipalus, her in-laws Henry and Winnifred Ward and her first born Michael Allan.
Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service for Eini will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday August 10th, 2015 in Epiphany Lutheran Church, 499 Dewe Ave., with Rev. Tuomisto officiating. Family and friends may gather directly at the Church up to one hour prior to service time. If anyone so desires, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Canadian Cancer Society or to the Epiphany Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.
