Susanna Mary Pakkala Duff died from complications of an aortic aneurysm Monday, March 5, 2018, at the family home, surrounded by her daughters. She was born July 25, 1935, near Amasa, Mich., the first of four children of Hilma (Hautala) and Jack O. Pakkala.
After graduating from Amasa High School in 1953, Sue married Russell Duff of Gaastra, Mich., on Sept. 12 that year. They lived briefly in Michigan and Wisconsin before moving to Orofino, where they started their family. Other moves included Renton, Wash., Craigmont and Albuquerque, N.M. They settled back in Orofino to raise their daughters. Sue and Russell enjoyed 61 years of marriage until his death in 2014.
Susanna's Finnish heritage was a source of pride for her. From that culture the term "sisu" - meaning grit, determination and sustaining courage - described her well. She was a strong woman and valued family matriarch.
She was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church. Over the years, she worked for Clearwater Valley Hospital and Orofino High School. She loved working in her garden and canning, and won many ribbons at the county fair with her produce and flowers. She was an accomplished seamstress and sewed many prom dresses (sometimes on the day of) and all her daughter's wedding dresses and more.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and her brother, Joseph V. Pakkala. She is survived by brothers Jack A. (Sharron) Pakkala of Kamiah and Michael Pakkala of Clarkston; her daughters, Terri (Gary) Picone of Lewiston, Linnea (Steven) Strottmann of Omaha, Neb., Julie McCoy of Coeur d'Alene and Ila Duff of Orofino; 14 grandchildren: Nina Peterson, Rico Picone and Maria Picone, Joseph Spinella, Kara Spinella, Matthew Spinella, Erik Strottmann, Carl Strottmann, Ben McCoy, Emily McCoy, McKinley McCoy, Elizabeth Stark, Kristopher Burch and Nicole Burch. Also surviving her are 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Ascension Lutheran Church in Orofino.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Susanna's name to the Ascension Lutheran Church Fund, 215 115th St., Orofino, ID 83544. Cards and condolences can be sent to the Duff family at P.O. Box 1441, Orofino, ID 83544.
