Vieno Tuulikki Palmén

I recently checked out a few details with my Dad, about his mother – Vieno Tuulikki (born) Kolehmainen. I met my her only once in 1968, when she visited our family in England for a couple of weeks. I was 4 years old. She was a quiet, affectionate, frail old lady

This is what I’ve found out about Vieno Tuulikki Kolehmainen:

   Studied Medieval English (probably at the University of Helsinki)

   First son, dad,  born when she was 23 in Viipuri – 1932

   Arrived in England 1934 aged 25 when her Lutheran minister husband was posted to Hull

   Daughter born in 1937, died less than a year later in 1938

   Vieno’s home in Hull bombed in 1941

   Russia attacked Finland in 1939

   Finland attacked Russia in 1941. England was an ally to Russia. Russia declared war on Finland and Vieno was included in the exchange of diplomats. Pressumably returning to Helsinki

   Dad evacuated to safety with a family in neutral Sweden – Linkoping

   Helsinki home was bombed one month after the birth of her second son – 1944

   Returned to England 1947 – suffered from clinical depression

   Returned to Finland 1948 – without her children – divorced 1950

   Visited England in 1968 – stayed with dad and met her grandchildren – but never met her second son who refused to visit out of loyalty to his father – Vieno’s ex-husband

   Died from a heart attack following slipping on doorstep ice in 1969