Norma L. Hakamaki

WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Norma L. Hakamaki, 91, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.

Norma was born to John and Emma (Eliason) Niemela on Sept. 26, 1931, at Divine Infant Hospital in Wakefield. She was the last of 11 children of the John and Emma Niemela family.

Norma attended Central Elementary School and high school in Wakefield and graduated in the year 1949.

She was married to Eric J. Hakamaki, formerly of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, in Wakefield, on June 11, 1955. They lived in Canada for five years, then returned to Wakefield, to make their home at 1401 Pierce Street. They had four children, two sons, Dale and David, and two daughters, Lynn and Carrie.

She was predeceased by her parents; four brothers, Arvo, William, Wayne and Elmer Niemela; three sisters and four brothers-in-law, Ellen and Francis Drake, Ruth and Walter Maki, Ethel and Vernon Solberg and Jerry Hakamaki; two sisters, Elsie and Miriam, and a brother, Leo, all who died in infancy; her husband, Eric; a daughter, Lynn; and a grandson, Neil.

Norma is survived by two sons, Dale (Julie), Wakefield, and David (Gina), Iron Mountain; a daughter, Carrie (Peter) Yon, Wakefield; 12 grandchildren, Jaime, Whitney, Henry, Hannah (Finn), Lara, Ryan, Hallee, Kassidee, Carlee, Jillian, Jared and Erik; three great-grandchildren, Liliana, Jack and Annabelle; three sisters-in-law, Marion Niemela, Ardythe Niemela and Lexi Hakamaki; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Norma was a lifelong member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bessemer. She was a loving and gentle soul, who had a wonderful sense of humor.

Norma enjoyed doing word search and jigsaw puzzles, reading books from the library to pass her time, but mostly having her grandchildren come over for visits.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m., at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, E8223 Sanders Road, in Bessemer, with the Rev. Timothy J. Steckling officiating.

Committal services and interment will take place at the Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield, in the spring.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield for all the wonderful care given to our mother.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family. To send online condolences or to share a memory please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.