Ellen Sarah Parkkonen

Ellen was born Sarah Ellen Frederickson on September 26, 1928, in Ishpeming to Alex & Bertha (Hodge) Frederickson. She attended National Mine School until dropping out to take care of her sickly mother. Ellen married Arthur Parkkonen on July 3, 1948, and they were married 62 years before Art’s passing in 2011. In her younger years, she worked at the Gossard, Newberry Store, Ace Hardware, and various other part-time positions. Ellen graduated from the Ishpeming-Negaunee-Nice Community Schools adult education program in 1973. She loved being a homemaker to her family, loved to cook and had a special love for baking. Her kitchen served as her “happy” place, especially in her later years. Ellen also loved to play the piano, crochet, knit, and sew. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great and great great grandmother. Her family was very important to her.

Ellen was a member of NORTHIRON Church in Ishpeming. She served in many capacities in the church throughout the years. She had a vision and prayed every day for church growth. Her church family was near and dear to her heart. She had a strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the way she lived her life showed it. Ellen had the gift of compassion, hospitality and serving others. She loved to have people over for a meal or just a cup of coffee & sweets in the evening.

Ellen is survived by 3 children, Shirley Boles, Paul (Genny) Parkkonen, and Lois (John) Massie; all of Ishpeming – 7 grandchildren, Christopher (Brooke) Boles of Joint Base MDL, NJ; Douglas Boles of Escanaba; Tammy (Richard) Larmour; Paula (Cory) Vial, both of Ishpeming; Brian Parkkonen of Wesley Chapel, FL; Bradley (Casey) Massie of Negaunee; Sarah Massie (Ben Zindler) of Ishpeming; 11 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild and 2 on the way; sister-in-law Sharon Rivers of Austin, TX; many nieces & nephews and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur; her parents; brothers, Lloyd (Jean) Frederickson, Rupert Frederickson; mother-in-law & father-in-law, Mary & Armi Parkkonen; sisters-in-law, Lorraine (George) Hancock; Mary Louise (Bernard) Nicikowski; Ruth (Ed) Hansen; Marjorie (Roger) Dodge; and brothers-in-law, William, John, George, Donald and Fred Rivers.

The family will greet family and friends at NORTHIRON Church in Ishpeming on Friday, June 14, 2024, from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, with a Celebration of her life to follow at 12:00 noon with Pastors Jeff Woodward and Andrew Eliason to officiate. Light refreshments will be served throughout the visitation period.

Interment will take place in the Ishpeming Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff of Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming and the staff of Teal Lake Assisted Living in Negaunee for the wonderful care and compassion that was showed to Ellen in the last two years.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Hebert, Richard Larmour, Bradley Massie, Cory Vial, Chandler Vial, Benjamin Zindler, Brian Parkkonen, and Christopher Boles.

Ellen’s obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.