Obituary of Harriet Hyyppa

Harriet (Kinne) Hyyppa, 87, of Portland formerly of South Glastonbury, wife of the late Reino E. Hyyppa, died Monday Sept. 6, 2010 at the Portland Care and Rehabilitation Center. Born November 15, 1922 in South Glastonbury, daughter of the late Aaron W. and Louise (Taft) Kinne, she lived most of her life in South Glastonbury- some would say she never left her beloved South Glastonbury even though she lived in Portland for thirty plus years. Harriet graduated from High Street School in South Glastonbury, Drew Seminary for Women in New York, Russell Sage College in New York and received her master's from Boston University. She had been a social worker for the YMCA and had sold real estate for Laura Hale Gorton prior to her marriage. She was a lifetime member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in South Glastonbury where she had served on the Vestry. Harriet was a member of Glastonbury Grange #26 and the Junior League of Hartford. She volunteered for the US Pony Club as a Game Official and was on the National Pony Club Testing Committee. She volunteered for the CT Horse Show Association and the CT Hunter and Jumper Association. She was a volunteer and librarian at the South Glastonbury Public Library founded by her relatives. Harriet was past president of the Glastonbury VNA, the Glastonbury Women's Club and was on the Board of Trustee's for Watkinson School. She was a founding member of the Portland Golf Club 18 Hole Women's League where she was Women's Club Champion five times. She was a member of the Southern New England Women's Golf Association. Harriet served in the WAVES during World War 2 and was stationed at the Naval Hospital in Boston. She was a substitute teacher in the Portland School System. Harriet survived the circus fire in Hartford. Besides golf, she loved to garden and knit. She was a true native of Nayaug the 51st state of the union and was proud of her Taft and Kinne heritage dating back to the 1600's. She loved nothing more than a drive down "river road and to the ferry". She was involved with Old Church and Still Hill Cemeteries. She volunteered at the voting polls in Glastonbury and Portland. Harriet is survived by her son Thor A. Hyyppa of Portland, her daughter Louise "Taffy" Hyyppa of Portland, her sister Martha K. Baribault of South Glastonbury, her sister-in-law Rosalyn Kinne of South Glastonbury, four grandchildren Johanna C. Hyyppa, Kalervo K. Hyyppa, Reino A. Hyyppa, Kari T. Hyyppa, her former daughter-in-law Patricia L. Hyyppa of Simsbury and several cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her two brothers, Henry A. Kinne and James T. Kinne. The family would like to thank Maria Vargas, Arden Courts of Farmington and Portland Care and Rehab. for the amazing care they gave Harriet during her journey. A memorial service will be held Friday Sept 10 at11am in St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 915 Main St., South Glastonbury. The family will gather at 9am at the Hyyppa Farm, Portland for a procession and a private burial in Old Church Cemetery, Glastonbury. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the South Glastonbury Public Library, 80 High St., South Glastonbury or to St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 915 Main St., South Glastonbury, CT. 06073. The Mulryan Funeral Home has care of arrangements. For online tributes please visit www.mulryanfh.com.