Ilene (Vuolle) Newell

She was born on July 12, 1919, in Calumet in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to Esther Helberg and John Vuolle. She was the last surviving member of a large Finnish family of nine girls and one boy.

In her childhood, she was well known for her outstanding soprano voice. She had an opportunity to become a professional singer in New York and Europe. Her parents declined the offer. For most of her life she sang around the house bringing great joy to her family.

Upon graduating from Calumet High School, she completed nursing school in Chicago where she became a registered nurse. While working for the Chicago Rawhide Company as a nurse, she took care of the injured workers. She also worked in the Cook County Hospital in men’s health and pediatrics.

Eventually Ilene went back to school at the University of Michigan and received a degree in public health nursing and loved working with people in need.

In her late 20’s, she took a job in Chicago at the Norwegian American Hospital where she met her future husband, a physician, Wilson Gault Newell. They were married in 1948 and were happily married for 56 years. They lived in Brighton their last 30 years. They had four children.

Ilene and Wilson’s love of travel, music, the Arts, took them to many areas of the world. They appreciated nature, hiking, cross country skiing and snowmobiling. Ilene enjoyed being physically active throughout her life, doing aerobics till the age of 93.

Ilene’s best times were spent at the family’s summer cottage on Lake Medora in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in Keweenaw County. While there she enjoyed rowboat rides, berry picking, baking, picnics, saunas and many other activities with her family and relatives. This was her Shangri-La! Cooking and baking were one of her greatest passions. The family especially loved her huckleberry, concord grape and raspberry pies along with her cakes and cookies. She was also a voracious reader and she loved all types of poetry.

Throughout her life she radiated a positive, happy attitude and embodied the Finnish SISU Spirit.

Ilene is survived by her daughter, Esther Morell of Brighton; three sons, Derrick of Glendale, California, Richard of Naples, Florida, Fred of Brighton; four grandchildren, Katie, Erik, Kristy Morell, Rebecca Atkinson; and her daughters, Chloie and Hailie.

A private memorial service will be held in the Keweenaw Copper Country in July with a burial at the Lakeview Cemetery in Calumet.

Memorials may be directed to Keweenaw County Historical Society, keweenawhistorical.org 670 Lighthouse Rd. Eagle Harbor, MI 49950 or an organization of your choice.