Anja Kuosmanen

SOUTH PORTLAND – On Jan. 30, 2023, Anja passed away peacefully at her daughter’s family home surrounded by her loving family.

Anja was born in Lahti, Finland, the daughter of Oskari and Hilma (Mustasaari) Filen on April 10, 1932. As a young child, Anja lived with her parents in Helsinki, Finland. During her childhood years the Russo-Finnish War, also called Winter War, broke out. Because of aerial bombardment by the Soviets, Anja’s parents sent her to live at her uncle’s farm away from the ravages of war. It is because of the time that she spent in the safety of her uncle’s farm that she acquired a love for nature and animals.

During the later years of the war, Anja lived with her older sister, Eila, in Helsinki. It is during these years with her sister, that their relationship deepened into a lifelong friendship that lasted until Eila’s passing in 2019.

Anja was married to her husband and life partner, Yrjo Kuosmanen, in 1952. Anja and Yrjo had two children, Timo (born in 1955) and Leila (born in 1956).

In 1968, Anja and Yrjo along with their two young children immigrated to the United States. The family settled in Maynard, Mass. where she worked at the computer company Digital Equipment Corporation. She later transferred to the Digital plant in Boston before retiring in 1992. She took pride in her work of inspecting computer circuit boards for defects and enjoyed the many friends that she made during her 23 years at Digital.

In 1972, Anja and Yrjo along with their family settled in their new home in Harvard. Following Yrjo’s death in 1977, Anja and her son, Timo, moved to Brookline, Mass.

During her later years, Anja lived in South Portland, Maine. She fell in love with the natural beauty of Maine and the good neighbors and friends she met along the way. Anja enjoyed poetry and writing letters. Over the course of 54 years in America, she wrote countless heartfelt letters to stay connected with her many relatives in Finland.

Anja especially cherished the visits with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren around her gave Anja special joy. She was a caring and fun-loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, parents, two brothers and three sisters.

Anja is survived by her son Timo Kuosmanen, her daughter Leila (Kuosmanen) Tuomi and her husband Chip; three grandchildren, Rachel Kuosmanen, Kristian Kuosmanen, and Adam Tuomi and his wife Courtney; and two great-grandchildren Isaac and Adrian.

The Celebration of Life services will be held at 1 p.m. on May 13, at Saint John Lutheran Church in Sudbury, Mass.

In lieu of flowers,

donations may be made in Anja’s memory to any local animal shelter