Elvi S. Grabber

Elvi Sofia Grabber passed away on April 18, 2011 at home. She was the daughter of William and Martha Viiltola of Vihanti, Finland. As the youngest child, Elvi grew up helping her widowed mother on the family farm and attending school in Vihanti and neaby Raahe. Following high school, Elvi worked in a pharmacy in Raahe in preparation for attending the pharmacological school at Helsinki University. While in Viihanti during the summer of 1955, Elvi met Henry Grabber of Lebanon Connecticut, who was traveling throughout Finland working on sponsor farms as a participant in the International 4-H Farm Youth Exchange program. After brief stay in Viihanti, a smitten Henry began a two-year correspondence with Elvi as he continued his scheduled travels in Finland and later returned to Lebanon. In the fall of 1957, Elvi traveled to Lebanon and they were married after a brief engagement and shared 53 devoted and loving years together before Henry's death in January 2011. Soon after marriage they built their home on the edge of the family farm in Lebanon where they raised two sons: John Hallam and Brian Henry. John is married to Pamela (Davis) formerly of Lebanon. They now make their home in Mazomanie, Wisconsin. Brian was married to Jacqueline Cone whose prior home was in Lebanon and then to Joanna Dempsey from Tolland. Brian lives on the family farm in Lebanon with his current companion Lauren Carrara. Henry and Elvi were blessed with nine grandchildren: Clarissa, Naomi, Stacia, Josiah, Austin, Elizabeth, Stephen, Matthew, and Sofia. Elvi is survived by one brother, Kaarlo Viitola of Raahe Finland. Predeceasing Elvi were her brothers Veikko, and Kauko, and sisters Suoma, Kerttu, and Iris. Services will be held at the Goshen Congregational Church on Church Road in Lebanon on April 30th at 10 am following a private interment at the Old Exeter Cemetery on Route 207 in Lebanon. There are no calling hours. In addition to flowers or other gifts, donations may be made to the Salvation Army. (Address: Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 509, Hartford, Connecticut 06141-0509). For online memorial guestbook please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .