EMMA E. ALATALO Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

EMMA E. ALATALO, age 91, of Baraga ended her journey on earth on June 29, 2010 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital, L’Anse. She was born in Houghton, MI. on March 4, 1919 the 13th child of the late John and Emma (Nordstrom) Rantanen. Emma attended school in Keweenaw Bay and Baraga. She fell in love and married John Alatalo in Chassell, MI. They celebrated 53 plus years of marriage before he preceded her in death. They moved to Detroit in their early years of marriage, where Emma worked for a bakery and they moved back to Baraga where they raised their 5 children. She worked at Baraga County Memorial Hospital in the housekeeping department until her retirement. Through the years, Emma loved dancing, a good joke, flowers, cooking, and sewing but most of all her family was her life. She enjoyed watching and listening to Finland Calling, Lawrence Welk and any show with a good singer. She will be remembered as a kind and loving person, who inspired unconditional love and respect. Mrs. Alatalo is survived by her loving children, Susan (Jay) Cossette of Escanaba, Rodney of Baraga, and Jerry of Naperville, IL, grandchildren Kim (Larry) Haveman, Kelly Cossette, Kirt (Marilyn) Cossette, Carrie Ciofani, Cassia (Lloyd) Phillips, Jerrod (Mariel) Alatalo, Stacy Alatalo, Debbie (Rob) Kurre and Janet Alatalo, great grandchildren Josh, Brian, Brad, Doug, Anna, Tony, Kaylie, Austin, Christina, Krystal, Alescia, Anthony, Anna, Amanda, Samantha and Sydney, great-great grandchildren Owen, Kennedy, Preston and Carmen arriving this fall. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Marianne Keranen, Elizabeth Alatalo, Bertha Rantanen and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by 14 siblings, 2 sons Roland and Bryan Alatalo, grandson Jason Alatalo and great grandson Michael Thunder Corbett. A celebration of Emma’s life will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, July 3, 2010 from Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Baraga with Pastor Pam Long officiating. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 11 a.m. until the time of the service. Interment will take place in the Keweenaw Bay Cemetery.