WILMINGTON — Marietta Nenonen Samppala, 94, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2019, with her family by her side.
She was first born Aug. 16, 1924, to Finnish immigrants, Otto and Anna Siitari Nenonen, in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
In 1947, Marietta married the love of her life, Ralph Samppala, in Porcupine, Ontario. They started their life together in Cincinnati, Ohio, before relocating to Wilmington in 1968 when Ralph accepted an engineering position in the new General Electric plant.
Surviving are her children, David of San Diego, James (Joyce) of Seattle, Ellen (Jon) of Wilmington and Daniel of Wilmington. She is also survived by beloved grandchildren, Marea, Paula, Jill, Jenny, Eric, Joy and Dwight. And then the special gift of great-grandchildren, Isabella, Quinn, Drake, Jonah, Lucas, David, Ellis and Ryan. Her husband Ralph preceded her in death in 2010.
Marietta was the consummate homemaker providing for and supporting her husband and children, but also in the spirit of her Christian faith, she made helping others her mission. From her early days of tutoring elementary school children to read, to being a hospice volunteer, to delivering Meals on Wheels, to adopting several nursing home residents to visit and support. Helping someone made her happy. Even in her last years, she found ways to help her assisted-living friends at Bradley Creek Health Care.
The family of Christians she adopted at Wilmington Bible Chapel since its beginning in 1968 had also been a faithful, growing and continuing source of strength and friendship for her throughout the years. Longtime neighbors in Long Leaf Acres cared for her as much as she cared for them…the honest definition of community.
Marietta truly lived the example of a life of loving kindness. It is no wonder she was always so loved and admired even in her final years and days…we know that what goes around, comes around. The care team members she so loved at Bradley Creek picked her up and carried her (and us, her children) as she rounded the last curve. For that we are eternally grateful…you are like her in that way.
We know that Marietta is already in a better place. In order for us to remember and honor her, there will be a visitation and memorial service at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 2, at Wilmington Funeral Chapel, 1535 41st St., Wilmington. Private family burial services will be at a later time at Marietta’s request.
The family requests donations to Lower Cape Fear Hospice or the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC in lieu of flowers.
Share online condolences with the family at Wilmington Funeral & Cremation.
