RUMFORD — Virginia Lillian Viitala, 92, a resident of the Rumford Community Home, formerly of Dixfield, passed away Thursday, Dec. 22.
She was born March 15, 1919, in Jay, one of seven children of Claude Lester and Minnie Maude (Townsend) Averill. She was the last surviving Averill sibling.
She graduated from Severy Hill Grammar School and attended Dixfield High School for three years. In 1938, she married Albert Edward Viitala. Together they raised four children and grieved the loss of their oldest son, August Edward Viitala in 1956.
In addition to being a homemaker, she also followed her passion of cooking and used those skills for High Horizons in Rumford. She also enjoyed knitting and sharing her talent with her friends in Extension Homemakers.
Perhaps her greatest legacy was her ability to teach others how to love.
She will be missed by her surviving sons, Richard Lee Viitala and his wife, Brenda, of Dixfield and Gilbert Sherman Viitala and his wife, Gerri, of Greenbush; several grand and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Her husband predeceased her in 1989; and their daughter, Carol Elaine Viitala died Sept. 12.
Tributes and condolences may be shared with her family on her memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.
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