Kirsi Aulikki Cohen died on November 28th in Franklin, North Carolina. She was 80 and living in a memory care facility after suffering from dementia for many years.

Kirsi was born in Myllykoski, a small paper mill town in southeastern Finland. At the age of 29, she was accepted into a teacher exchange program and traveled by boat to New York City, where she taught kindergarten in Queens. At a New Year's Eve party in Manhattan, she met Marshall Cohen, who she would eventually marry. A stop in Lynchburg, Virginia yielded their daughter Auli. Two years later, their son Kari was born in Florida, where Kirsi lived for much of her adult life. She lived a vibrant and busy life raising her children, playing tennis, enjoying the beach and the outdoors, and traveling frequently to Finland to visit family. Her easy laugh and warm affability drew many friends into Kirsi's circle. Her culinary abilities were known far and wide.

After her children grew up, Kirsi found a new outlet for her affinity for children by becoming a long-term nanny for three different families in succession. Kirsi then retired and moved to North Carolina to live near her daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law.

Kirsi is survived by Auli (Tim) and Kari (Lauren), granddaughter Ella, grandson Audie, ex-spouse Marshall, and her two sisters in Finland–Hilpi Lahdensuu and Irma Helkiö. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Yjrö and Taimi Helkiö and her younger brother Ari Helkiö.

Kirsi's family is planning a remembrance in Finland in summer 2022. Donations can be made to the National Audubon Society.