LITCHEIFLD, Conn. — Sylvia Saarnijoki, 93, died peacefully on Feb. 5, 2018, after a full life of friendships, career, and community service.
Born in Newport, N.H., and a 1943 graduate of Towle High School, Sylvia earned a BS degree in Medical Technology from Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y, and subsequently worked as a medical technologist in Syracuse and Staten Island, NY., before moving to Litchfield, Conn.
She served as a medical technologist at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Conn., for 17 years and then as Laboratory Administrator at St. Raphael’s Hospital (now part of Yale-New Haven) in New Haven, Conn., until her retirement in 1990.
She was a member of the national American Society of Medical Technologists and acted as their Recording Secretary. She was also a member of the Women’s College Club of Connecticut, serving a term as its president; and she served with Literacy Volunteers and as a regional representative on the Connecticut State Commission on Aging. Sylvia was also a founding member of one of the first Red Hat women’s groups in Connecticut.
She enjoyed gardening, picking fresh vegetables and fruits at local farms, and swimming for exercise.
Proud of her Finnish heritage, she took several trips to Finland to visit family, and stayed close throughout her life to the Finnish community in Newport.
She is predeceased by her parents, August and Amanda Saarnijoki, a sister Helen Saarnijoki, and brother Arvo (Gus) Saarnijoki, all former Newport residents.
She is survived by her nieces, Gretchen Toles (Tom) of Washington, D.C., and Linda Saarnijoki (Rusty Davis) of Weston, Vt, as well as two great-nieces and a great-nephew.
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