Obituary for Eila J. (Leino) Makey
Eila J. (Leino) Makey, 87, currently residing in Leominster, longtime resident of Stow, passed peacefully after a short illness on May 15, 2020. She was the beloved wife of 57 years to the late John A. Makey.
Eila is survived by her sister Martha and brothers Harold and Walter Leino, all of Harrison, Maine; her 4 children: Susan Kamp and husband Paul of Woonsocket, RI: John Makey, Jr. and wife Karen of Marlborough; Cindy White and husband Denis of Wesley Chapel, FL; William Makey and wife Lynn of Clinton, MA. She was "Nana" to P.J., Daniel, Micaela, and Julia Kamp, Carly and Ricky White, and Brooke and Hope Makey; "Great-Nana" to Chelsea and Courtney Kamp as well as aunt to dozens of nieces and nephews. Eila was predeceased by her parents, John and Hilda (Kohtakangas) Leino; 7 brothers Arne, Matti, Bruno, Lauri, Henry, Arthur, and Eugene; and 3 sisters Helmi, Lempi Heath, and Lila Butterfield.
Eila was born in Harrison, Maine on November 8, 1932 and spent her childhood in the woods, at the lake and on the family farm. An excellent student, she was Salutatorian of the Bridgton Academy Class of 1951, as well as the Best Female Athlete. She attended the Auburn (Maine) School of Commerce and worked in various offices before moving to Littleton, MA and meeting her future husband, John, at the Bowl Mor Company. They were married on June 13, 1959.
Besides joyfully raising her children, Eila immersed herself in Stow for the 55+ years she lived there working as bookkeeper, the Assistant Treasurer, then the Town Treasurer and Tax Collector, retiring in 1988. She volunteered for the Stow Friends of the Council on Aging, worked at the polls on election day, and helped at countless craft or bake sale fundraisers. A proud Finnish-American, Eila was a devoted parishioner and choir member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudbury. She enjoyed the company of her large extended family, sleepovers with her grandchildren, gardening, yardsaling, romance novels and going out to eat.
Arrangements are under the thoughtful guidance of Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave., Acton, MA 01720. Burial service in Brookside Cemetery, Stow, MA was private.
A memorial celebration of Eila’s life will be planned at a future date.
If you would like to make a donation in Eila’s memory, suggestions are:
Stow Friends of the Council on Aging, P.O. Box 97, Stow, MA 01775
MA Covid-19 Relief Fund, ℅Foundation for Business Equity, 265 Franklin St., Box 304, Boston, MA 02110. macovid19relieffund.org
American Heart Association - www.heart.org, or mail to the local chapter, American Heart Association, 300 5th Ave, Waltham, MA 02451.
Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com
Eila is survived by her sister Martha and brothers Harold and Walter Leino, all of Harrison, Maine; her 4 children: Susan Kamp and husband Paul of Woonsocket, RI: John Makey, Jr. and wife Karen of Marlborough; Cindy White and husband Denis of Wesley Chapel, FL; William Makey and wife Lynn of Clinton, MA. She was "Nana" to P.J., Daniel, Micaela, and Julia Kamp, Carly and Ricky White, and Brooke and Hope Makey; "Great-Nana" to Chelsea and Courtney Kamp as well as aunt to dozens of nieces and nephews. Eila was predeceased by her parents, John and Hilda (Kohtakangas) Leino; 7 brothers Arne, Matti, Bruno, Lauri, Henry, Arthur, and Eugene; and 3 sisters Helmi, Lempi Heath, and Lila Butterfield.
Eila was born in Harrison, Maine on November 8, 1932 and spent her childhood in the woods, at the lake and on the family farm. An excellent student, she was Salutatorian of the Bridgton Academy Class of 1951, as well as the Best Female Athlete. She attended the Auburn (Maine) School of Commerce and worked in various offices before moving to Littleton, MA and meeting her future husband, John, at the Bowl Mor Company. They were married on June 13, 1959.
Besides joyfully raising her children, Eila immersed herself in Stow for the 55+ years she lived there working as bookkeeper, the Assistant Treasurer, then the Town Treasurer and Tax Collector, retiring in 1988. She volunteered for the Stow Friends of the Council on Aging, worked at the polls on election day, and helped at countless craft or bake sale fundraisers. A proud Finnish-American, Eila was a devoted parishioner and choir member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudbury. She enjoyed the company of her large extended family, sleepovers with her grandchildren, gardening, yardsaling, romance novels and going out to eat.
Arrangements are under the thoughtful guidance of Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Ave., Acton, MA 01720. Burial service in Brookside Cemetery, Stow, MA was private.
A memorial celebration of Eila’s life will be planned at a future date.
If you would like to make a donation in Eila’s memory, suggestions are:
Stow Friends of the Council on Aging, P.O. Box 97, Stow, MA 01775
MA Covid-19 Relief Fund, ℅Foundation for Business Equity, 265 Franklin St., Box 304, Boston, MA 02110. macovid19relieffund.org
American Heart Association - www.heart.org, or mail to the local chapter, American Heart Association, 300 5th Ave, Waltham, MA 02451.
Memorial page actonfuneralhome.com