Hele Malle Salusoo
Hele Malle Salusoo passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, January 23,2026 at the age of 92.
Hele was born on September 30th, 1933 in Estonia to the late Hugo and Helen Allisma.
In addition to her parents, Hele was preceded in death by her husband of 34
years, Mihkel Salusoo. She was also preceded by the father of her children Boris Paas and brother Peep Allisma (Mary).
Hele was a loving mother to the late Mati Paas (Candi) and Heli Beale (Tom). She was an aunt to Tiina Ntchougan-Sonou (Late Koffi Sr) and Tom Allisma (Ashley). Hele was a blessing and inspiration to her grandchildren Toomas Parratt, Lindsey Papizzo (Mario), Tiiu Parratt, Kimberly Paas (Scott) and Arthur Parratt (Marlene) as well as a wonderful great grandmother to Owen, Caleb, Lily, Hunter, Willow, and Ruthy.
Hele loved spending time with her family and friends, attending her local church, and caring for the many pets she had over the years. She enjoyed knitting and in her later years took up a passion for painting. Always reading and standing up for her political beliefs, she was not influenced in any way by what other people thought of her. She was uniquely herself and for that she will be greatly missed.
A Memorial Service for Hele Salusoo Will be held at Mitchell Funeral Home on
Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 at 1pm
Hele would take every opportunity she could to share her life’s story with anyone who would listen. She wished that her journey from Estonia to Canada to be shared with the world and never be forgotten, here told by Hele one last time.
Hele Malle Salusoo’s Life Story
“I was born in Estonia, a small country the size of South Carolina, with a population of 1.2 million people.
In 1940 we experienced the first occupation by communist Russia, I was only 6 years old. Within one year of occupation the Russians exterminated over 10,000 Estonians. Shortly after the start of WW2 the Germans began their occupation as they pushed the Russians back to their own borders.
However, by the fall of 1944, the Russians front started to move west again, and the Baltic states were under threat of Soviet reoccupation. My father knew we had to leave – flee! On my 11th birthday we were able to escape Estonia on the last ship to leave, a German naval vessel carrying wounded soldiers. Two days later my family landed in Germany.
My father kept us moving toward the allied forces in hopes of finding a way to escape Germany. By the end of the war we had succeeded in finding camps for Baltic refugees within the British controlled zone. Food and medical supplies were provided by the UNRRA (the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) and Red Cross, and allowed us to survive.
In 1946, England opened its door to first allow a single person to work on farms, and to be followed by family members after one year. So, our father went and by Christmas 1947 we were all united again in Bradford, Yorkshire. Shortly afterwards my brother and I started at separate schools, as I was accepted to an all girl’s grammar school.
In 1951 countries around the world had started opening their doors to WW2 refugees, referred to as DPs (Displaced Persons) at the time. My family decided it was time to leave Europe! Russia was putting pressure on European countries to return Baltic refugees to the now Soviet Baltic States, with some countries like Sweden starting to concede to.
Our family decided that Canada would be our new home, with my uncle already there working. On Canada Day 1951 we finally arrived at our new home, Montreal, and finally had a house with an address. Within a day we were already meeting other Estonians and heard the banks were hiring Baltic refugees. I went to the head office for the Bank of Montreal right away to get an interview and was hired on my third day of being in Canada.
My first job was at the Bank of Montreal and loved every day of my 38 year banking career. My brother became an engineer and started a family in the United States. Our family now has four generations across North America and always remind them how blessed we were to escape the Soviet occupation.
I had to tell my story so people will know what really happens under communism rule. Communism actually started 100+ years ago with the socialism movement! My brother and I lost our childhood, lost our family, and lost our home. Our grandparents, farmers, died in Siberia for refusing to go into collective farming. A fate shared by many other farmers in our village who were also deported for refusing to accept communist rule.
Private businesses became state owned; churches were under attack. Celebrating Christmas or Easter was a State crime and quickly became a nightmare for those believing in individual rights! It turned neighbour against neighbour, and even my father’s own brother against him. For over 47 years relatives could not contact each, not even knowing if the other is still alive with the iron curtain closing in 1944, separating Soviet Estonia from the rest of the world.
As the Berlin wall came down and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Estonia was finally free in 1991. However, I worry about how long we will be free as I start to see socialism creeping into North America. It is not good and we need to be aware of what you wish for!
Remember work hard and be proud of what you do! Nothing is free in life!” – Hele Salusoo
Hele will finally be able to return home to Estonia and experience one last summer. She will then be laid to rest with her best friend, husband and soul mate Mihkel to spend eternity together in peace.