Anna-Maija Heilimo

Beloved wife and mother, Anna-Maija Heilimo (née Tauriainen) passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026 at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada. 

Anna-Maija was born on December 9, 1963 in Oulu, Finland to Jalo and Salme (Laurila) Tauriainen. Her early years took her from Finland to Australia (Sydney and Canberra) before returning to Revonlahti, Finland in 1971. The family immigrated to Canada in 1972, where she made her home and raised her family. 

After attending Jämsä Kr. Kansanopisto in Finland as a young woman, Anna-Maija returned to Canada to be with her childhood sweetheart, Gary, whom she married in 1981. Together, they raised their fourteen children and shared 45 years of marriage. She devoted herself to her family and created a loving and warm home for her children and grandchildren. 

Her faith formed the foundation of her life. It guided her in raising her children, comforted her in times of joy and hardship, and shaped the love and care she showed to others. 

Anna-Maija will be remembered for her generosity, curiosity, and joyful laugh. Her home was a place of warmth and welcome, filled with family gatherings, music, and lively conversations. She was fiercely loyal to those she loved and steadfast in her beliefs, never afraid to speak her mind with honesty and candour. She loved to learn, travel, and discover beauty in simple things, whether collecting shells on the beach or photographing the flowers in her garden. She cared deeply for others and was often the first to offer help, encouragement, and kindness. Above all, she treasured her family and adored her grandchildren, finding her greatest joy in the time she spent with them. She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered. 

Anna-Maija is survived by her loving husband, Gary Heilimo; and children, Marika Heilimo; Seppo (Anne) Heilimo; Pekka (Julia) Heilimo; Riitta (Andrew) Hotari; Mika (Inka) Heilimo; Alex (Makaylin) Heilimo; Victoria (Miika) Hotari; Kristoffer (April) Heilimo; Brianna (Jonathan) Hotari; Vanessa (Leevi) Hotari; Lars Heilimo; Lillian Heilimo; Laurence Heilimo; and Jaana Heilimo. 

Her 65 grandchildren.

Her parents, Jalo and Salme Tauriainen: and siblings, Kaarlo (Helen) Tauriainen; Risto (Terhi) Tauriainen; Tarja (Dave) Nevala; Peter (Laurie) Tauriainen; Kaija (David) Beishline; Susan (Dan) Haapala; Heidi (Deron) Simonson; Sari (Brandon) Niskanen; Juha (Anne) Tauriainen; and Marko (Nida) Tauriainen.

Many nieces and nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Anna-Maija was preceded in death by her grandchildren David Julian Hotari and Olivia Mae Hotari; nephew Alex Niskanen; mother-in-law Toini Heilimo; father-in-law William Heilimo; brother-in-law Lauri Sipilä; and sister-in-law Jean Tauriainen.  

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre for their excellent care and kindness to our mother and family during her brief stay. 

Visitation will be held at the Laestadian Lutheran Church in Cookstown (5579 Highway 27) on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 11a.m. to 1p.m. The funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. Interment will be held at the Cookstown United Church Cemetery. Dinner and memorial service will follow at the church. 

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