Thelma R. Sihvonen's Obituary
Thelma “Pon” Marie Beatrice Ruiz Sihvonen, beloved wife, mother, “Grannie”, and friend, died at her home on Saturday, January 12, 2008, on her 90th Birthday.
She was born January 12, 1918, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is survived by her son, John Phillip Sihvonen; two daughters, Ann Lynne Sihvonen Mayo and Sue Boland Sihvonen DuCros; her sisters-in-law Mildred Bowman Ruiz and Sigrid Sihvonen Laitala; her daughter-in-law, Susan Lynn Kraft Sihvonen; her “Gems” (grandchildren), Amy Boland Mayo McLin, John Sihvonen Mayo, Elizabeth Lynn Sihvonen Weissinger, Matt Victor Sihvonen, and Sarah Kraft Sihvonen; her grand-sons-in-law, Ian Michael McLin and Ryan Guiam Weissinger; her “Crown Princes” (great-grandchildren), Thomas Boland McLin and James Victor Weissinger. She was pre-deceased by her parents Adolph Phillip Ruiz and Thelma Cooper Hill; her husband of 28 years, Sulo Victor Sihvonen; her two brothers, George Walter Ruiz and Adolph Phillip Ruiz, Jr.; her sister-in-law, Joyce Sanama Ruiz; and her son-in-law, Jerry Gene Mayo.
She graduated from Touro Infirmary School of Nursing in 1939 and worked as a public health nurse in Bastrop, Louisiana, prior to marriage and military service. As a 1st Lieutenant in the 24th General Hospital Unit of the United States Army during World War II, she served her country as an Army nurse in Italy and North Africa from 1943 to 1946. As a newly wed, she and her husband moved to Crossett, Arkansas where they raised their family. Pon was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Crossett, serving as Treasurer of the Church Circle and Women of the Church. As an active mother, homemaker, and volunteer, she served as den mother for her son’s Cub Scout troop for two years and as Girl Scout troop leader for her daughters for 10 years. She was also involved with the American Cancer Society serving as memorial chairman for 5 years and County Chairman for 1 year. A lifelong Republican and avid political enthusiast, Pon was active in the GOP in Ashley County, Arkansas; serving as their president for three years and also serving on a statewide level. She was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1972. Pon was also a charter member of the League of Women Voters.
In 1986, she returned to Louisiana to be near relatives. In recent years, she has enjoyed her involvement in the Daughters of the American Revolution, United Daughters of the Confederacy, National Society Daughters of Eighteen Hundred and Twelve, National Society Southern Dames of America, and the American Legion.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend a visitation at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1 North Marigold Drive, Covington, Louisiana, on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 9:00 a.m., a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. There will be a reception following the service. Pon will be buried next to her husband at the Crossroads Cemetery in Crossett, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Covenant House, 611 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, Louisiana.
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