Heli Vihavainen

A precious wife, mother and “Mami” to her grandchildren, Heli Vihavainen, died on June 21, 2024, after a short but taxing battle with cancer. Despite the diagnosis, she remained strong in her faith and trust in God. Heli was born and raised in Jyväskylä, Finland. She graduated from Keski-Suomen Yhteiskoulu high school in Jyväskylä, and continued her education in Helsinki where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Haaga-Helia - University of Applied Sciences. She later furthered her education in Human Resources and Leadership at the University of Jyväskylä. Heli was the heart and pillar of her big family. She was married for 38 years to her soulmate, Vesa, whom she met at the young age of 18 in Hamburg, Germany. The two of them devoted their lives to each other, working hard and traveling the world, setting roots in multiple countries in Europe and the United States. As a do-er and self-starter, she built her career as a people-oriented entrepreneur, providing HR and Payroll Services, which allowed her to work remotely and retreat to her second home in Finland once a year to enjoy a dose of serenity. She called her Finland home a place of “pure zen”. Anyone who knew Heli, knew the kindness of her soul. She had an incredible heart for loving and serving others. She always put the needs of others before her own and provided comfort with just her presence, while never asking anything in return. The center of her world was her husband and best friend Vesa. Anyone in the family could attest they were “the lovebirds” of the family. Their curious natures, coupled with their pioneer mindsets, led them to explore places and participate in Finland-related associations and in Finnish-Lutheran churches wherever they lived. Their shared love for others led them to open their home to many around the world such as exchange students, friends and even strangers, and they became quite the hosts along the way. Heli learned to love unexpected adventures and guests. Heli was an incredible mother by nature - to her own children and eventually her grandchildren. She had unique and deep bonds with each of them. She truly adored all her children and grandchildren and never took a moment with them for granted. The sound of her grandchildren was music to her ears and she loved them as her own. She was always the one on the floor playing with the little ones. Her ability to make each of her children and grandchildren feel special and loved was impeccable. Heli was crafty with her hands. She had a love for making her ideas come to life from scratch. Whether it was bookbinding, baking or sewing stuffed animals for her grandchildren, her works were one of a kind. Heli was also passionate about the environment - clean water, healthy food, recycling, a proponent for second-hand shopping and natural fiber composite materials. Though our time with our sweet Heli was cut short, she gifted each one of us with a relationship that one could only imagine to have in a lifetime. Her compassion, loyalty, and unconditional love have imprinted in each of our hearts, encouraging us to live our lives focused on love. Heli is survived by her husband Vesa, her four children Joonas, Hanna, Saara and Johannes, her daughter-in-law Aija, her sons-in-law Matt and Michael, six grandchildren and two on the way, her sister Johanna with family, her father Tarmo and mother-in-law Hilkka. She is preceded in death by her mother Marjatta and grandmother Hilkka “Mummu”. She also leaves behind a multitude of friends around the globe. The impact Heli made on our lives will forever remain. May she rest in eternal peace in the arms of Jesus. We sincerely thank you for your prayers and support during this time. Your shared memories, comforting condolences, and gestures of love are truly appreciated. The Vihavainen Family

Heli Vihavainen

December 6, 1967 - June 21, 2024