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Ilona Teresia Murto
July 16, 1924 - June 17, 2018
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<div itemprop="description">MURTO, Ilona Teresia<br><br>Peacefully in Ottawa, on Sunday, June 17, 2018 at the age of 93. She is survived by her husband and soul-mate of 56 years Tapio (Electrical Engineer M.Eng, retired); her son Dr. Kimmo Murto (Dr. Susan Humphrey-Murto); her grandchildren Tomi and Taija Murto and her sister Kaarina. Predeceased by her siblings Arvo, Jauko, Tenho, Vellamo and Valma. Born in Pielavesi, Finland on July 16, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Optatus and Sylvia Raatikainen. Her life-long love of music and nature and a fierce determination to succeed where the results of her rural upbringing, a father who was a nationally known folk violinist and seeing action as a nurse’s aid on the Eastern Front during the Second World War. A passionate fine arts teacher and successful academic throughout her life, she taught high school in Finland, received a Degree in Arts from the University of Helsinki, and studied art at Ateneum (The Finnish Academy of Fine Arts) and following her immigration to Canada with Tapio in 1963, she enrolled in visual arts teacher courses at the University of Toronto. Locally, she was an art instructor for the Nepean Parks and Recreation Department (1968-72), a long-time instructor of KALEVALA (National Epos of Finland) and subsequently received an Honorary Doctoral Degree Award by the University of Metaphysics (USA). Her unique painting style was easily recognizable often using mythological and folkloric expressions in her impressionist paintings. Her dream-like works were inspired by her love of children, nature, flowers and landscapes. She created over 2000 works of art represented in numerous private Canadian and international collections as well as the National Museum of Finland ethnological drawing collection, the National Gallery of Canada-Library and Archives and the National Capital Commission. She has participated in numerous exhibits and art shows and was a long-time member of both the Bells Corners Arts league (now the Nepean Fine Arts League) and Art lending of Ottawa, the Ottawa Arts Court and the Clothesline Art Fair. Ilona was known for her generosity in supporting local artists both as a teacher as well as providing a venue to display their works in the Arteca Gallery, her business that began in Bell’s Corners (1971-79) and later moved to South March, Kanata (1989-2006). Her family will remember her best as a highly intelligent athletic woman with a sense of humor, committed to lifelong learning, and the lover of art in all of its forms. We still hear her singing her Finnish songs to her grandchildren and laughing with the love of her life, Tapio. The family wishes to thank the staff of Chartwell Riverpark Retirement Home for their excellent care and support of both Ilona and Tapio. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Pinecrest Visitation Centre – 2500 Baseline Road, Sunday, June 24 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Service to take place Monday, June 25 in the Pinecrest Chapel at 11:00 a.m. Interment and reception to follow. Online condolences can be made at www.colefuneralservices.com <br></div>