Onerva (Heikkinen) Lovejoy

Onerva (Heikkinen) Lovejoy, 88, a retired teacher who lived on Maplecrest Avenue in Fitchburg, MA, died June 8, 2008 at her daughters house in Rindge, NH.  She was the daughter of John and Emma (Nykanen) Heikkinen born in Fitchburg.
 
Mrs. Lovejoy graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1937 and received a Bachelors degree in Education in 1941 and a Masters Degree in 1954; both from Fitchburg State College.  She also had a post graduate certificate (C.A.G.S.) from Boston University in 1957.
 
Mrs. Lovejoy taught school in South Royalston, Bolton and Waverley, MA, and had also taught special classes in Fitchburg, MA for many years.  She was a member of Faith United Parish, the Alumni Association of Fitchburg High, Fitchburg State College and Boston University. 
 
She was a member of the Retired Education Association of MA (R.E.A.M.), Finland Foundation of Boston, a Founding member of the Finnish Center of Saima Park, Fitchburg Friends of the Library, Fitchburg Art Museum, an active volunteer at the Fathers Table and she was a president of the Finnish Cultural Center when it was at the State College.  Mrs. Lovejoy loved gardening, reading, music, and embroidering counting cross stitch.  She traveled often in the US and in Europe, having made 23 trips to Finland.
 
Her husband, Robert, died in 1993.
Mrs. Lovejoy is survived by her daughter, Nancy Little and her husband Carl of Rindge, NH, her son, David Lovejoy of Victorville, CA, and her sister Aili Heikkinen in Helsinki, Finland.  She also leaves two grandsons Shaju and Cory Little of Rindge, NH and 1 great grandson Sarad Little; three step-granddaughters Shannon Little of Ashburnham, MA, Kelly Ward and her husband David of Weare, NH, Kork Little of Rindge, NH and 3 step-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Faith United Parish, 202 Main St., Fitchburg, MA  01420 or the Finnish newspaper, Raivaaja, Post Office Box 600, Fitchburg, MA  01420-0054.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family in the family lot at Forest Hill Cemetery in Fitchburg, MA.

There will be no calling hours or formal funeral services according to her wishes.