By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
WOODLAND — Born in Pori, Finland in 1907, Rachel Ranne Sheehan just celebrated her 104th Birthday on Oct. 13 with her family in Woodland. As much changed from the early 20th century, so did Rachel’s name; growing up in Finland, her name was Mirjam Raakel Ranne. When she came to America on Oct. 19, 1913, her parents changed her name from Raakel to Rachel.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Rachel Ranne Sheehan, front, just celebrated her 104th Birthday on Oct. 13. She is shown here with her great-grandsons Jacob, at left, and Andrew Driscoll as well as her granddaughter Sharon Hengst, center.
Rachel still remembers her journey to America well, and often shares the stories with her granddaughter and caretaker, Sharon Hengst.
“She told me she remembers going up the side of the ropes onto the ship; her father had worked on the ships going back and forth to America from Finland,” Sharon recalled. As tensions were growing between Finland and the Russian government, the family immigrated and arrived in Boston in 1913.
Sharon also said that her grandmother maintains fond memories of her most influential teacher growing up, whose last name was pronounced the same as Rachel’s but spelled slightly different.
Rachel would follow her teacher home after school and this was how the eager student was afforded the opportunity to learn English. She speaks three languages — Finnish, French and English — and Finnish and English have stayed with her strongly over the years.
Rachel also shares stories that reflect the times she grew up in, like how she remembers going over to her neighbors house with her younger brother to collect milk from their cow every morning.
Now a great-great-grandmother, Sheehan has always been woman of artistic talent, whether it was painting, crocheting, knitting or sewing.
Sharon remembers proudly the compliment-drawing clothing that Sheehan would make specifically for her.
“She would make me such pretty dresses and pretty skirts, people would ask me ‘what store did you get that from?” Sharon said.
But one of Sharon’s favorite memories of her grandmother stems from summer visits when she was a kid.
“When I used to visit her in the summertime, she always made me banana split sundaes for breakfast,” Sharon remembered.
While Rachel is an accomplished oil painter and has always been fond of the arts, one of her strongest characteristics has always been her poise and class.
“She was once the secretary to the Mayor of New Rochelle, NY,” Sharon said. “She would travel around with the Mayor and staff, trying to bring in businesses to the city.”
Rachel enjoyed traveling in her younger days, particularly through Europe.
Rachel is also a registered Nurse, having graduated form the Burbank Hospital School of Nursing, and recalls the long 12-hour shifts she had to work six days a week.
As she enjoys music and dancing, she was always very active with senior citizens groups but now enjoys spending quieter days at home, particularly when the Wheel of Fortune is on.
With her oldest son being in his 70s’, Rachel now working her way toward her 105-milestone birthday.
“She’s just young, I don’t know how else to say it,” Sharon said.
