April 30, 2004
Section: Obituaries
April 30, 2004
Impi Cardona

Impi Sylvia Cardona, age 81, of Rudyard, Michigan died Wednesday, April 28, 2004 at War Memorial Hospital Long Term Care in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She was born February 19, 1923 in Kinross, Michigan to Thomas V. and Katrina (Tulppo) Ahola.
Impi grew up in Rudyard and graduated from Rudyard High School. She married Alfred Cardona on December 22, 1941 in Sault Ste. Marie and worked at the Soo Creamery and as a housekeeper while he served in the Coast Guard during World War II. They moved to Fairport Harbor, Ohio in 1952, raised their family there and then retired to Rudyard in 1978. Impi was a daycare provider, Avon saleswoman, classroom mother, an active member of the Parent-Teacher Association and during retirement in Rudyard, she supported Al in all of his public service activities. She made great baked goods, especially fabulous Nisua (Finnish bread).
She was as member of the St. James Lutheran Church in Rudyard, the Rudyard Senior Citizens Club, and the English-Wallis VFW Post #4905.
An avid reader and crafter, Impi also enjoyed gardening, bowling, knitting and sewing.
Surviving Impi are three sons; two daughters; ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also surviving are one brother, Urho (Susie) Ahola of Rudyard and two sisters, Nelma Lampinen of Sterling Heights, Michigan and Vieno Lyons of Sault Ste. Marie.
Impi was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred in 2002; one daughter, Karen Cardona in 1949; three brothers, Arthur, William and Walter Ahola; and six sisters, Aini Daniels, Julia VanHala, Jennie Hines, Marion Arps, Evelyn Ogryski and Lillian Nelson.
Visitation will be held Friday, April 30 from 3 to 5 and from 6 to 8 p.m. at Reamer Galer Funeral Home, 24549 S. M-129, Pickford, Michigan.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 1 at 2 p.m. at St. James Lutheran Church in Rudyard with Reverend Katheryn King officiating.