Obituary of Hilppa Annikki Pearson

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Passed away peacefully at Lanark Heights Long Term Care Centre in Kitchener following a brief illness and a decades-long struggle with rheumatoid arthritis on Monday, November 29, 2021, age 77.

Hilppa was born on October 1, 1944, to Vilho and Eva Mattila in Helsinki, Finland. Her dynamic and vibrant personality was shaped as the fourth of seven siblings. Hilppa immigrated to Canada in 1967 with her former husband, Jukka Raveala, and her daughter Nina where they settled in Toronto. There, Hilppa attended the Toronto Teacher’s College where she began a long career as a beloved educator – earning the nickname “Mrs. Ravioli” from her Canadian students. Hilppa was an ardent lover of the arts and was a talented painter, forever modest about her own work. She pursued a degree in fine arts from York University, graduating in 1980. In Toronto, she met Dr. Frederick Griffith (“Griff”) Pearson (1926-2016). Griff and Hilppa married in 1991 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and travelled the world together, attending many international conferences and visiting friends on many continents. They retired to their country home in Mansfield, Ontario to enjoy the outdoors. True to her Finnish roots, Hilppa loved cross-country skiing and a wood-fired sauna. Her grandchildren loved spending time with “Mummi” in her art room, where she encouraged them to create and endlessly celebrated their pieces.

She is predeceased by her husband Griff and siblings Olli and Helja (“Kallu”). Hilppa leaves behind her daughter Nina, four siblings, Mika, Satu, Ilpo (“Popo”), Jari (“Jallu”), three grandchildren – Julia, Evan, Erika, and great-granddaughter Emma. The family would like to thank staff & caregivers at Lanark Heights Long Term Care where she spent the last two years of her life. Special thanks to Crystal Nadjiwan, whose compassionate care over the last 4 years has been a blessing.

To attend the visitation and memorial service for Hilppa, personal face coverings are required and relatives and friends must register (RSVP) at www.erbgood.com or by calling the funeral home at 519-745-8445. Visitation will be held at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Friday, December 3, 2021 from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.  The memorial service will follow in the chapel of the funeral home on Friday, December 3, 2021 at 2 p.m., with Rev. Philip Mathai officiating. The service will be livestreamed, the link is available at the top of Hilppa’s obituary page at www.erbgood.com.

Condolences for the family and donations to The Arthritis Society may be arranged by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.