Eila N. Seppelin

Eila Nikunen Seppelin passed away on February 5th, four days before her 94th birthday. She was born in Fitchburg on February 9, 1924 shortly after her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Toholampi, Finland. She grew up in Westminster. After graduating from David H. Fanning Trade School in Worcester in 1942 with a degree in culinary arts, she married Donald K. Seppelin. They were married for 61 years until his death in 2003. The Cocoanut Grove night club fire occurred while they were honeymooning in Boston. She leaves 3 children: Elaine Brown (Paul) of Topsham, Maine, Evelyn Baird (Edward) of Chester County, PA and David Seppelin (Gayane) of Westminster, 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Her sister, Viola Nikunen Hakkinen, predeceased her. During WWII she lived in California while her husband was in the US Naval Hospital Corps stationed in San Diego and San Francisco. She spoke fondly of life in California in the 1940's, but both she and her husband missed New England. Therefore, soon after the war ended they came back East, eventually settling in Westminster in 1956. They built their own home on land purchased from her parents who lived in the oldest house in town. She was an active member of the Two Hearts As One square dance club in the 1970's and of the Straight From the Heart singing group. She was also a longtime member of Covenant Lutheran Church in Gardner. In the 1950's, she and her husband ran the Parkview Guest House in Brattleboro, Vermont, and she later worked for 15 years at Henry Heywood Hospital in Gardner. They lived in Westminster until 2001 when they moved to The Sundial Apartments in Fitchburg. She later lived at Wallace Towers in 2017 until her passing. A private graveside service will be held in the Spring at Woodside Cemetery, Westminster. Donations in Eila's memory may be sent to the Finnish Cultural Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Road, P.O. Box 30, Fitchburg 01420 To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com Lamoureux-Smith & Poliks – a Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St. Gardner is assisting the family with arrangements