Dr. Helvi Silivask - Runkla

The death of Dr. Helvi Silivask - Runkla of Saint John occurred at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Saturday, July 3, 2010. She was born on a farm in Sääsekõrvaküla (Mosquito Ear Village) near Tartu, Estonia on August 15, 1913. She learned to read the newspaper "Postimees" and sing folk songs and hymns before the age of 3 with her grandfather. She received her elementary and high school education at the Eesti Noorsoo Kasvatuse Seltsi Tütarlaste Gümnaasium in Tartu and graduated from the University of Tartu Medical School in 1942. She worked as a physician for the Estonian Railway in Tallinn, Estonia until her harrowing 10 day escape in an open dory from Estonia to Sweden in October 1944. She quickly learned Swedish and practiced medicine in southern Sweden as well as in a tuberculosis sanitorium above the Arctic Circle. She came to Canada in 1949, learned English, passed the LMCC medical exams, and worked at the Tuberculosis Hospital in East Saint John, treating patients from all over New Brunswick. After the Tuberculosis Hospital closed in 1976 she continued her practice at the West Side Community Hospital, and retired from medical practice in 1982 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. She was well respected by the medical colleagues of her time, and was known for her wise treatment of the many Tuberculosis patients she cared for in a time when Tuberculosis had a stigma and was difficult to treat. She was forthright and direct, with a sense of humour, all the while showing compassion and kindness to patients from all walks of life.
 
After her retirement she pursued her interests of reading, water colour painting (taking classes with local artists Ray Butler and Robert Percival), knitting (creating original patterns), gardening, travel, taking part in church activities, attending performances at the Imperial Theatre, providing therapy dog visitations, dog training -- winning Canadian Kennel Club Obedience trial classes with her miniature schnauzer Trudy, and being in the top 10 obedience terriers in Canada when she was in her mid 80's. On her 90th birthday she won the top scoring maritime dog in novice class with Lucy (miniature schnauzer) at the Kennebecasis Obedience Club trials.
 
She has been a member of the Saint John Women's Symphony Committee, the Saint John Art Club, Lutheran Church Women, the Canadian Kennel Club, the Canadian and New Brunswick Medical Associations. She was a life member of the Saint John Medical Society and the Kennebecasis Obedience Club. She was the oldest member of Hope Lutheran Church in Saint John.
 
Dr. Silivask-Runkla led an extraordinary and rich life, touching many lives.

She was predeceased by her husband Hindrek Runkla in 1961 and her sister Marta Saavo. She is survived by her daughter Tiina and her much loved dogs Stella (miniature schnauzer) and Miku (cairn terrier) in Saint John as well as a niece Siiri Kaarna and nephew Karl Saavo both in Estonia.
 
Sincere thanks to the hospital staff who showed kindness on 3CN, 4BN, and finally on 3DS as well as Security Services and Volunteers at the Saint John Regional Hospital. A very special thank you to all staff at the Turnbull Home and Dr. Winston Lee for the kind, respectful care given during a stay that was much too short.

A service to honour her long and extraordinary life will be held at the chapel of Brenan's Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506) 634-7424 on Thursday, July 8, 2010. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm with the service to follow at 2:00 pm. Interment will take place in Fernhill Cemetery. A reception will be held at Brenan’s Reception Centre following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations of time or money to a charity of the donor's choice, or attendance at the service honouring Dr. Silivask's life, would be appreciated by Tiina.