Helmi V. (Kulmala) Salo

FITCHBURG/HOLDEN – Helmi V. (Kulmala) Salo, 83, died on Monday, October 25, 2010 in UMass Memorial-University Campus, Worcester, after being stricken ill.

She was born and raised in Maynard, the daughter of John I. and Ina (Orasmaa) Kulmala, and lived in Waltham for 30 years, and 20 years in Holden before moving to Fitchburg 7 years ago. She graduated as Valedictorian from Maynard High School and Valedictorian from the Katharine Gibbs School in Boston.

She started her career as an Executive Secretary at the J. Walter Thompson Co. in New York City. For 18 years she taught typing and then arts & crafts at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. A very skilled weaver for many years, she received an invitation to show her work in 2008 at the National Heritage Museum "Keepers of Tradition" exhibit in Lexington.

She was a member of the Boston Weaver's Guild and the Lexington Arts & Crafts Society. She was proud of her Finnish heritage and was a member of the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja, The Finnish Center at Saima Park and the Knights and Ladies of Kaleva.

Her husband of 54 years, Arne Salo, died in 2000 and a daughter, Ellen S. Abbott died in 2007. She leaves behind a daughter, Laila S. Auvinen and her husband Mauri of Ashburnham; a son-in-law, Thomas Abbott of Metheun; and 4 grandchildren, Gunnari Auvinen, Maija, Edward and Benjamin Abbott.

Friends and family are invited to attend calling hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, October 29th, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 30th, in the funeral home with burial following in Glenwood Cemetery, Maynard. The family requests donations in her memory be made to the MSPCA, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130; or the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com