Evi P. Karelson

Karelson, Evi (Pank) age 87 died peacefully on July 19, 2021. A longtime resident of St. Anthony Village, Evi was born in Estonia and raised primarily in Tallinn, the capital, and Rakvere, the hometown of her parents, the late Maret Pank and Arnold Pank. Evi came to the U.S. as a teenager, after years as a displaced person (DP) in Germany, along with her mother; beloved grandmother, the late Elvine Oravas; and sister, Maia. In September 1957, thirteen years to the day after her family fled Estonia ahead of the invading Soviet army, Evi married Valentin Karelson, also a native of Estonia, in Minneapolis. (She always said that she knew the first time she met Valentin that she would marry him.) Evi enjoyed a long career in medical records, designing her own degree in the field at the University of Minnesota after her two daughters started school. Although she never quite recovered from Valentin's death in 1983, Evi continued working and enjoyed attending theater and dance performances and taking care of her two grandchildren. She was a world-class bargain hunter who knew exactly which counter at Dayton's would yield the nicest costume jewelry for the best clearance prices, and she shared life stories with the salespeople at Kohl's and Herberger's. Until she developed Alzheimer's late in life, Evi never forgot a birthday or other special occasion. She would want it to be said that she always emphasized the importance of education and that she had "the best girls." In addition to her parents, grandparents and husband, Evi was preceded in death by family members in the U.S. including her husband's parents, Marie Karelson and Aleksander Karelson, sister-in-law Regina Kallas, and brothers-in-law Konstantin Kallas and Robert Mertz. Evi is survived by daughter Tina Karelson (John Risdall) and granddaughter Lily Risdall; daughter Tia Karelson (former husband Mark Erdahl) and grandson Everett Erdahl; sister Maia Pank Mertz; nieces Marissa Mertz and Alexandra Mertz; nephew Toivo Kallas (Bea Holton), and extended family in the U.S. and Estonia, including her namesake cousin, Evi Kobin. The family would like to thank the staff of The Harbors Senior Living Community of Fridley and North Memorial Hospice for their care and kindness. Memorials preferred to Minnesota Public Radio, Planned Parenthood North Central States or the University of Minnesota Foundation/Northrop Performance Access Fund. A private family interment will take place at Sunset Cemetery. A public visitation will be held from 2-4PM on Friday, July 30 at: Washburn-McReavy.com Northeast Chapel 612-781-6828 2901 Johnson St. N.E., Mpls

Tributes

Evi P. Karelson

October 10, 1933 - July 19, 2021

Tributes

Evi P. Karelson

October 10, 1933 - July 19, 2021

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