1917
Irja
2010
Irja Viola (Rivinoja) Haynes
March 9, 1917 — April 8, 2010
WORCESTER – Irja Viola (Rivinoja) Haynes, 93, of Worcester, died on Thursday, April 8, 2010 in the Beaumont Rehab. & Skilled Nursing Center after a long illness. She was born on March 9, 1917 in Worcester, the daughter of Herman and Hilda (Paananen) Rivinoja. She grew up in Hubbardston and was a 1934 graduate of Gardner High School. Irja had lived in Gardner, Turners Falls, Holden and Worcester.
Her husband, S. Walter Haynes, daughter Susan V. Haynes and two brothers, Oiva H. Rivers and Henry C. Rivers, predeceased her. She leaves a sister-in-law, Vera V. Rivers of Paxton; a niece, Cynthia A. Beard of Hubbardston, a nephew, Brian T. Rivers of Roseville, Ontario, Canada; three grandnieces; a grandnephew and relatives in Finland. A nephew, William R. Rivers, predeceased her.
In Turners Falls, she was an active member of the First Congregational Church serving on many committees. She had been a Brownie leader and in charge of their Girl Scout Cookie sale.
Irja earned the Professional Standards Certificate from the National Association of Educational Secretaries in 1974. She was a secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Worcester when she retired in 1980. She was an ardent weaver taking courses in Finland, Northampton and Boston. She had been a member of The Weaver’s Guild of Worcester serving as Treasurer and previously Secretary. Her specialty was Finnish weaving and had received an award in 1976 for a Finnish wall hanging at the New England Weavers’ Seminar in Amherst. Irja wove the material from which she sewed an authentic Finnish costume and often wore it to ethnic events including the Finnish dance group to which she and her husband belonged. She had been an active member of the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja in Rutland and a member of the Finnish Heritage Society of Saima in Fitchburg.
A private funeral service will be held in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery, Holden. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja, c/o Mrs. Eva E. Hirvi, 4 Ridgewood Road, Paxton, MA 01612; or a charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family in care of Miles Funeral Home.
Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com
Her husband, S. Walter Haynes, daughter Susan V. Haynes and two brothers, Oiva H. Rivers and Henry C. Rivers, predeceased her. She leaves a sister-in-law, Vera V. Rivers of Paxton; a niece, Cynthia A. Beard of Hubbardston, a nephew, Brian T. Rivers of Roseville, Ontario, Canada; three grandnieces; a grandnephew and relatives in Finland. A nephew, William R. Rivers, predeceased her.
In Turners Falls, she was an active member of the First Congregational Church serving on many committees. She had been a Brownie leader and in charge of their Girl Scout Cookie sale.
Irja earned the Professional Standards Certificate from the National Association of Educational Secretaries in 1974. She was a secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Worcester when she retired in 1980. She was an ardent weaver taking courses in Finland, Northampton and Boston. She had been a member of The Weaver’s Guild of Worcester serving as Treasurer and previously Secretary. Her specialty was Finnish weaving and had received an award in 1976 for a Finnish wall hanging at the New England Weavers’ Seminar in Amherst. Irja wove the material from which she sewed an authentic Finnish costume and often wore it to ethnic events including the Finnish dance group to which she and her husband belonged. She had been an active member of the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja in Rutland and a member of the Finnish Heritage Society of Saima in Fitchburg.
A private funeral service will be held in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery, Holden. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Finnish Heritage Society Sovittaja, c/o Mrs. Eva E. Hirvi, 4 Ridgewood Road, Paxton, MA 01612; or a charity of one’s choice. Messages of condolences may be sent to the family in care of Miles Funeral Home.
Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com
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