In Memory of

Sylvia

A.

Saarnijoki

Obituary for Sylvia A. Saarnijoki

Sylvia Saarnijoki
Half- Century Resident of Litchfield


Sylvia Saarnijoki, 93, died peacefully on February 5 after a full life of friendships, career, and community service. Born in Newport, NH, Sylvia earned a BS degree in Medical Technology from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY, and subsequently worked as a medical technologist in Syracuse and Staten Island, NY, before moving to CT, first to Harwinton and then Litchfield. She served as a medical technologist at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, CT, for 17 years and then as Laboratory Administrator at St. Raphael’s Hospital (now part of Yale-New Haven) until her retirement in 1990. She was a member of the Women’s College Club of Connecticut, serving a term as its president; served for several years with Literacy Volunteers; served as a regional representative on the Connecticut State Commission on Aging; and was a founding member of one of the first Red Hat women’s groups in Connecticut, the Scarlet Splashers. She enjoyed gardening and picking fresh vegetables and fruits at local farms, and swimming at the Torrington YWCA and Mount Tom State Park. 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 her hometown of Newport, NH. She is survived by her nieces, Gretchen Toles (Tom) of Washington, DC, and Linda Saarnijoki (Rusty Davis) of Weston, VT, as well as two great nieces and a great nephew. A Celebration of Life reception for friends and family will be held at The Litchfield Community Center, Sunday, February 18, 3-5 PM.