Helmi Harju Waits

August 30, 1918 – April 29, 2017

Sadly our beloved Mom and Mom-in-Law, Grandma, Great Grandma, Aunt, Cousin, Friend, and Neighbor, Helmi Harju Waits passed away on April 29, at the age of 98, surrounded by her family and extended family, including Maxwell, the dog she loved so much.

Helmi was born on August 30, 1918, in Jacksonville, Florida, to John E. Harju (originally Paulaharju) and Saima U. Talvitie. When she was 6-months old, the family travelled to California and eventually settled in Berkeley, where Helmi and her sister Lillian (Galusha) graduated from Berkeley High School. She met Donald A. Waits, Sr., and they were married in 1938. Don passed away in 2009, a few months after they had celebrated their 71st Wedding Anniversary.

She worked part-time as a retail clerk at Kahn’s Department Store in Oakland. She continued to work there when it became Rhodes Department Store and, later, Liberty House.

Helmi was loving, kind, and generous, and she taught us to love and respect all living things. Her mind was clear and alert to the very end. She was interested in everything going on around her and always tried to find something good in every situation and every person. She enjoyed doing the crosswords, cryptoquips, and jumble puzzles in the daily paper.

Helmi is survived by her daughter Helmi Louise, son Donald Jr., daughter-in-law Wendy Waits, granddaughters Guinevere (Jack Morones), Hillary (Kris Anelli), great granddaughters Alura and Tori Morones, Zooey and Olivia Anelli, nieces, nephews, cousins (both in the US and in Finland), a wonderful extended family, friends (in the US, Finland, Spain, and the UK), and neighbors, some of whom have known her almost their entire lives. Her smile, patience, and willingness to listen will be missed by all of us!

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 13, from 12:30 to 3:30, at Arlington Park Clubhouse in El Cerrito, CA.