Obituary for Tarja Bouchard (Lehtola)
The family announces with great sorrow that Tarja Heli Kaarina Bouchard (nee Lehtola) of Timmins, Ontario passed away peacefully on February 26, 2022, at the age of 61 years. Devoted wife of 40 years to her husband, Ron. Loving mother to her girls, Jessica and Katrina and sons-in-law Matthew Vierimaa and David Richardson. Cherished Mummu to her ‘kulta’ boys, Archer and Evan Vierimaa.
Tarja is survived by her sisters, Tuula Bernard (George) and Tiina Guillemette (Glenn), sisters-in-law Colette Proulx, Elaine Chorney, and Suzanne Slobodian (Richard), brother-in-law Jacques Lessard, as well as many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind to remember many close friends as well as cousins and relatives in Finland. Tarja is predeceased by her parents, Heikki and Maria Lehtola, her parents-in-law, Romeo and Yvette Bouchard, as well as her sister-in-law Michelle Lessard.
Tarja was born in South Porcupine, Ontario after her parents immigrated to Canada from Finland in 1959. She worked as a Registered Nurse in Timmins for 28 years, which provided great meaning in her life. Tarja lived with a brain tumour and epilepsy for more than two decades and after she was no longer able to work as an RN, she volunteered for the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre, receiving a 10-year service award in 2019. She shared her journey with cancer online with old and new friends, inspiring others with her faith, optimism, and seemingly endless supply of Finnish ‘sisu.’ Tarja loved spending time at her family cottage on Charland Lake and will be remembered as a great cook and avid gardener. Aina muistoissa.
The Bouchard family would like to thank Dr. MacDonald (London Regional Cancer Program) for his many years of dedicated care as Tarja’s neuro-oncologist. They are grateful to Extendicare staff and to Dr. DiTullio for her care and guidance. Heartfelt thanks to the Timmins Hospice Centre RNs for their attentive and compassionate care in the final days of Tarja’s life.
A memorial service will be held at Lessard-Stephens Funeral Home on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. The memorial service will also be live streamed on the funeral home’s Facebook page (Maison funéraire Lessard-Stephens Funeral Home Inc.) To view the livestream CLICK HERE. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 4, 2022, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. All attendees must wear a mask during the memorial service and visitations. Remembrance donations to the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre will be graciously received in Tarja’s memory.
Tarja is survived by her sisters, Tuula Bernard (George) and Tiina Guillemette (Glenn), sisters-in-law Colette Proulx, Elaine Chorney, and Suzanne Slobodian (Richard), brother-in-law Jacques Lessard, as well as many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind to remember many close friends as well as cousins and relatives in Finland. Tarja is predeceased by her parents, Heikki and Maria Lehtola, her parents-in-law, Romeo and Yvette Bouchard, as well as her sister-in-law Michelle Lessard.
Tarja was born in South Porcupine, Ontario after her parents immigrated to Canada from Finland in 1959. She worked as a Registered Nurse in Timmins for 28 years, which provided great meaning in her life. Tarja lived with a brain tumour and epilepsy for more than two decades and after she was no longer able to work as an RN, she volunteered for the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre, receiving a 10-year service award in 2019. She shared her journey with cancer online with old and new friends, inspiring others with her faith, optimism, and seemingly endless supply of Finnish ‘sisu.’ Tarja loved spending time at her family cottage on Charland Lake and will be remembered as a great cook and avid gardener. Aina muistoissa.
The Bouchard family would like to thank Dr. MacDonald (London Regional Cancer Program) for his many years of dedicated care as Tarja’s neuro-oncologist. They are grateful to Extendicare staff and to Dr. DiTullio for her care and guidance. Heartfelt thanks to the Timmins Hospice Centre RNs for their attentive and compassionate care in the final days of Tarja’s life.
A memorial service will be held at Lessard-Stephens Funeral Home on Saturday, March 5, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. The memorial service will also be live streamed on the funeral home’s Facebook page (Maison funéraire Lessard-Stephens Funeral Home Inc.) To view the livestream CLICK HERE. The family will receive friends on Friday, March 4, 2022, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. All attendees must wear a mask during the memorial service and visitations. Remembrance donations to the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre will be graciously received in Tarja’s memory.