Helen Marie Snell

HELEN MARIE (PAAVOLA) SNELL - 96

On Sunday, June 12, 2022, God took Helen home quietly from her room at Bay Bluffs Medical Care Facility in Harbor Springs, Michigan after a short illness.

Helen Marie Paavola was born in Detroit on May 17, 1926 to Ellen (Erickson) and Waino Paavola. They soon moved to the Upper Peninsula (Copper Country) when she was a year old. This is where she and her two brothers Robert and Harold, grew up. Helen loved to tell stories of how they played and the mischief they got into. She would tell of how they would dress for school in the harsh Winters up there and how they would get to and from school. Helen was of Swedish and Finnish descent and learned to speak Finnish as a young girl and even learned her Catechism in Finnish. Her family moved around a lot for work, so she had to switch schools many times. She was a very shy, timid girl so it was hard on her. As an adult she continued to be rather timid and shy. She was teased a lot by family for her gullibility too.

In 1946 she met and married the love of her life, Earl Robert Snell. They were married in a small ceremony in Houghton, Michigan by a Justice of the Peace and then went out to dinner. Earl had just finished his time in the United States Army when they met and he had a job working in the local mines. They began their married life by living in his family home in Dodgeville, Michigan with Daughter Patricia. Eventually, as jobs were scarce in the U.P., they moved to the Detroit area where he worked for General Motors. They eventually bought a new home and settled in Redford Township. They proceeded to have 5 more children there. Helen was the ideal homemaker – keeping a beautiful home and raising her 6 children. She never worked outside the home or ever learned to drive a car. Her focus and time was spent on her family. In her free time, she enjoyed tending to her many flower gardens around her home.

She was a longtime member of Northwest Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Southfield, Michigan where she was an active member of the Quilter’s group there. They worked putting together quilts for the homeless. She also made quilts for her grandchildren during her active quilting days. She was a proud “Finn”! She joined the Finnish Center in Farmington, Michigan where she met many new and old friends and enjoyed visiting with her fellow Finns and sometimes helping to make “pasties” that they sold there. The family feels that her pasties were always the best and no one could do better. She made them so large sometimes that they joked they were the size of your head! When Earl retired from GM, they enjoyed many summers of camping together at Twin Lakes State Park in the U.P. While there they could visit family and friends they still had in the area. Helen finally learned to ride a bike there, but was too afraid to ride it out of the park area. They always enjoyed their time together and their love lasted over 50 years until Cancer took Earl’s life in 1997.

After his death, she sold her home and moved to Petoskey, Michigan. She lived in Petoskey for 20 years, spending 9 of those years living in a multi-generational home with her grandchild, great grandchild and other extended family members. Her love of children and animals kept her going. She spent a lot of time watching the birds, spoiling the dog “Gypsy”, and doing her “word books.” She always waited for and enjoyed visits by her family anytime they could come. Christmas was her favorite holiday, so she began collecting both angels and snowmen. She leaves many of both to the family to ‘inherit’. She loved getting her hair and nails done each week, when able, at JB’s Hair Salon. Her sweet, quiet manner will be missed by so many new and old friends that she made while living in Petoskey. Helen’s family and friends were her life and she loved them all dearly. Her “SISU” has kept her going for many years through many tough times and health issues. She leaves us all with the knowledge of how to show and share love, and the memories she gave to us for kindness and to care for others. She will be so sorely missed by all who knew her.

Preceeding her in death were: her father Waino Paavola; one daughter Barbara Jean Snell; her parents Otto & Ellen Putkela; her 2 brothers Robert Paavola and Harold Paavola; her Son-in-law Carl Moser, and one granddaughter Heather Marie Seigmiller. She leaves her six children: Patricia Moser; Thomas (Lynda) Snell; Randy (Lou) Snell; Terry Snell; Robert (Peggy) Snell; and Pamela Snell/Tom Collopy. Also 12 Grandchildren; 21 Great Grandchildren and 4 Great-Great Grandchildren. Many Nieces, Nephews and Cousins – all so very loved by her.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bay Bluffs Medical Care Facility in Harbor Springs for the wonderful care they have provided for her during her last three years of life. In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Bay Bluffs Foundation, 750 E. Main St., Harbor Springs, MI 49740

A visitation for Helen will be at the Charles Step Funeral Home in Redford Township, Michigan on June 18, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. A service will begin at 3:00 PM.

Arrangements are in the care of Stone Funeral Home, Inc. of Petoskey and Charles Step Funeral Home of Redford Township.

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