Rita Honkanen Sillan completed her epic and adventurous 91 years that spanned the globe and touched countless lives with her graceful heart. Born to Finnish immigrants, she grew up in the Bronx and upstate New York in a Finnish community called Lomala, where she enjoyed its community sauna, swimming hole, and dance hall.

Perfectly matched with Richard Sillan for 65 years, Rita carried forth the legacy of the Sillan Forest for her three daughters and 5 grandchildren. Living by example, she infused a true sense of ‘sisu’ in her family- a Finnish quality that speaks to determination, perseverance, and an indomitable spirit. 

Rita lived an active lifestyle independently as a widow, without illness or accident, full of exuberance for life.

Rita’s favorite word was ‘Yes!’, and without hesitation, she was always eager to help others, take care of family and friends, and embark on adventures near and far to discover new cultures, cuisines, art, and mostly, people. As a world traveler, she was well-organized, well-informed, and always in good humor. Visiting 68 countries, she lived in Hong Kong and Singapore with her husband as he consulted post-retirement. Illustrious, competent, and generous, Rita defined what it means to be a ‘people person', always seeing the good in everyone she met. A true optimist, her brilliant smile with a movie star dimple was a gift she freely shared with everyone. Her extensive circle of friends of all ages speaks to her ability to make everyone feel special. 

An active and admired member of her communities, she worked for the town planning and zoning boards in East Fishkill, NY, taught swimming to hundreds of children, volunteered at the San Jose Ballet and Portraits of the Past at History San Jose, all while being a maternal anchor, dropping everything to nurture her daughters and grandchildren - an inspiration to her loving family.

Rita’s favorite flower was a daisy, and it is clear why. She was always fresh, showing up with her natural talent for style and creative flair. Its sunny-side-up design reflects her upbeat personality as she was always ready to dance, entertain, play bridge, engage in a book club, and teach water aerobics at 91. Her many talents are displayed in its ring of white petals, each one saying, “She loves you.” 

Rita is survived by daughters Dale and her husband Huw, Donna, Diane, and grandchildren Jackson, Kai, Wyatt, Sian, and Kieu. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Common River, a non-profit organization co-founded by her daughter Donna in Ethiopia. Visit www.commonriver.org

A memorial event to celebrate Rita’s life will be held in San Jose, CA at the end of March 2022.