Liivi Wiitala’s life, and others, will be celebrated during a 4 p.m., Sept. 20, Cemetery Walk in Kaleva. Photo courtesy of C. Asiala.
By Cynthia Asiala
The Kaleva Historical Society will hold its first Cemetery Walk at 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Maple Grove Township Cemetery, located on the corner of Nine Mile Road and Kaleva Street.
David Hoeh will narrate and guide the participants to six gravesites of prominent Kaleva residents. At each site, an impersonator will tell the story of the individual and read a poem that students from the service learning class of Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools wrote about him or her. The walk will last about an hour, followed by a bonfire or “kokko.”
Background
In 1914 the Kaleva Bethany Lutheran Church began a tradition that continues today. When there is a death, the church bells ring equal to the number of years the person lived. In the old days when the bells rang, the Finnish-speaking folks of Kaleva gathered on the streets and asked, “Kuka kuoli (Who died)?” No doubt they then discussed the life of the person who passed.
In 2000 Richard Asiala researched the church records and compiled the deaths of all who were buried through the church from 1902 until 2000. It is a valuable resource as it lists date of birth, death, year of arrival in Kaleva, where they came from and place of burial. He also comments from his recollections throughout the book.
That resource, along with “Songs of Kaleva I and II” written by KNDS students, was vital in planning the first Cemetery Walk. Another resource was the only written history of Kaleva, authored by Andrew Brask. He wrote it for the Kaleva Jubilee, or 75th anniversary. This book contains biographies of many of the original immigrants.
Join us to discover “Kuka kuoli” at the “kokko” on September 20.
