Maria Jungner, Jaakko Teppo and Marjorie – These Finnish stars died in 2024

In 2024, Finns had to read several sad news about the deaths of well-known people. There were long-lived entertainment industry figures as well as young people.

We compiled a list of people in the entertainment industry who have passed from time to eternity, honoring their memory.

Olga Ketonen (b. 1964)

Olga K The death of the Finnish radio host known by the nickname reached Finns on February 3. Olga Ketonen, real name Tuula Ketonenwas 59 years old when he died. According to Ketonen’s next of kin, Ketonen’s death was caused by a congenital heart defect.

Ketonen started his radio career at Mikkeli regional radio. In the 1990s, he hosted several programs on Radiomafia. Between 2007 and 2011, Ketonen hosted Radio Aalto’s morning show. In 2007, he was awarded radio host of the year at the Radio Gala event.

Over the years, he hosted on several Yle radio channels. Since 2014, his voice has been heard on Ylen Radio in Finland.

On television, Ketonen also hosted a talk show The red planet mixed Planet Plupuprogram.

Keto was missed by his wife and two adult sons.

Jussi Raittinen (b. 1943)

Musician Jussi Raittinen died at the age of 80 on February 13. Raittinen died exhausted by a long illness.

Raittinen turned 80 in September 2023. He organized two celebratory concerts in honor of his birthday, but no more birthdays could be celebrated due to health concerns.

Three years ago, Raittinen underwent bypass surgery and was fitted with a pacemaker. Raittinen had to use aids for his movement. In the summer of 2023, he received a diagnosis of varying degrees of skin cell changes.

Raittinen founded his band Jussi & The Boys in 1964. He was often seen performing especially in Helsinki, but also around the world. One well-known restaurant where Raittinen performed was Storyville in Helsinki.

Raittinen was married Carita-with his wife for over 53 years. Carita is a specialist nurse by profession and she helped and cared for Raitti as best she could. The couple has two children: the late son Yuccawho died in 2013, as well as Pekka.

Jaakko Teppo (b. 1953)

Folk artist Jaakko Teppo died on February 26 when he was 71 years old. His cause of death has not been made public.

Jaakko Teppo, originally from Iisalme, became known as a couplet singer and folk artist of the whole nation. His roots and rural culture were strongly heard in his musical production. Teppo also took a stand on social issues with his satirical texts.

Tepo’s most famous compositions were Hilma and Onni, Song of the unemployed, On ice, Pamela and The Frog Prince. Teppo was also nicknamed Ruikonperä’s earth cucumber.

In 2022, Tepo was awarded the Finland Award of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The justifications emphasized how he brought joy to people’s lives for more than three decades. In his career, he managed to do more than 5,000 gigs, drive two million gig kilometers and sell more than 600,000 records.

Teppo had a cerebral infarction in 1995. He retired after a heart attack. Teppo was missed, among others, by his spouse Irma and boys Ilya and Johannes Teppo.

Maria Jungner (b.1973)

Known as a TV announcer Maria Jungner died March 2. He was only 50 years old when he died. The cause of death has not been made public.

Jungner had a long, more than 20-year career as a TV announcer at Yle. The announcer’s career began at Yle in 1998. Jungner also edited Yle’s Ykköskatsomo program.

In addition to this, Jungner is remembered for his radio programs. In 2013, he got a radio program bearing his own name on the Yle Puhe channel.

Jungner was also part of the Espoo city council for two terms in 2009–2017 as a representative of SDP.

Maria Jungner was married and CEO of the communications agency Kreab by Mikael Jungner with in the years 2007–2012. Before this union, he was married to his childhood friend. He had two grown children.

Kaj Chydenius (b. 1939)

Composer Kaj Chydenius died at the age of 84 on April 20. The composer slept peacefully at his home in Helsinki, surrounded by his loved ones.

Chydenius was missed by his wife, children, grandchildren and other relatives as well as a wide circle of friends.

Chydenius’ most famous works include, among others Lapland opera, On a rocky hill, Youth bar and I love you, you, you.

Chydenius was one of the most famous figures of the political song movement of the 1960s and 1970s. For example From the Lapua opera became a great work in its time. In the 1970s, Chydenius was involved in founding the KOM theater, which still stands today in Helsinki’s Ullanlinna.

Chydenius was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1996. In 2003, he received the golden medal of the Central Association of Finnish Theater Organizations and in 2006 the state prize for art. In 2009, Chydenius was awarded an Artist Pension.

Maki Kolehmainen (b. 1966)

On June 3, Finns woke up to the sad news of the death of musician, producer and composer Maki Kolehmainen. He was 58 years old when he died. Kolehmainen died of a rapidly progressing illness.

Maki Kolehmainen is remembered Time machine– as a band member and composer. Kolehmainen’s pen also produced numerous Finnish timeless classics, such as the band Aikakone Under the maple tree, I said and Samuli Edelmann’s A thousand nights mixed Robin’s Frontside Ollie.

Kolehmainen also composed music, for example Give it to Abreu, For Danny, Give it to Erikson, To tick and Hanna Pakarinen.

Juhani Palmu (b. 1944)

Artist Juhani Palmu was announced dead on June 26 at the age of 79. Palmu died in hospice care, and he had COPD and bladder cancer.

Juhani Palmu was a Finnish painter. The subject of his paintings was often a Finnish countryside with barns.

Over the years, Palmu has also received bad burns in two accidents.

Palmu was married six times. His wives included, among others Katariina Wuoristo and Tiina Jylhä.

Marjorie (born 1965)

Iskelmä singer Marjorie lived Marjo-Riitta Nieminen died on October 13 at the age of 58.

Marjorie’s friend Majka Nurminen told Ilta-Sanom that the singer died of an advanced illness. According to Nurminen, Marjorie was diagnosed last spring, but it has been agreed with the family that it will not be made public. Marjorie died peacefully in Valkeakoski hospital.

In recent years, Marjorie was one of Finland’s top artists. He released six albums in his career, participated in Finland’s Eurovision qualifiers Four times and appeared on the Kivikasvot show. In addition, he performed in several musicals and lent his voice to cartoons.

Among other things, Marjorie is remembered for her songs Room 213, Full of life and Just a house of cards.

Janne Puhakka (b. 1995)

One of the deaths that touched Finns the most was news in October, when ex-hockey player Janne Puhakka died as a victim of a homicide on Sunday, October 13. Puhakka was 29 years old when he died.

The police suspect Puhaka’s ex-husband, a 66-year-old Norwegian Rolf Nordmoa of murder. Nordmo shot his former spouse twice. Nordmo has admitted to the shooting, but denies the charge.

The shooting took place in Henttaa, Espoo, in the couple’s shared home. On the day of the death, Puhakka went to the apartment to discuss practical issues related to the couple’s divorce. The police believe that the motive for the death was the end of a relationship.

Puhakka was the first Finnish male hockey player to publicly tell of his homosexuality. This happened in October 2019. Puhakka was awarded as a role model of the year at the rainbow influencers’ Queer of the Year event in 2022.

In his professional career, which lasted from 2015–18, Puhakka played in, for example, the SM league and Mestis.

Puhakka was also seen in reality TV shows. Among other things, he competed in what was seen this year Traitorsin the program.

Puhaka’s death raised a lot of discussion in Finland about intimate partner violence and the rights of minorities.

Heikki Silvennoinen (b. 1954)

Actor and musician Heikki Silvennoinen died on December 18 at the age of 70.

Silvennoinen’s daughter Saara Silvennoinen told Iltalehte about his father’s last moments. According to Saara, Heikki was not alone in recent times.

– This morning he overslept at home. He has been ill for a long time. Had a rare blood disease, kidney failure and had many health concerns for many years. Then this morning he was found asleep, Saara Silvennoinen told Iltalehte.

Silvennoinen is best remembered by Ylen Cuckold– as the creator and actor of the series. The sketch series started in June 1991, and it was shown on Yle channels continuously, except for a short break, until 2003.

Before Kummel breakthrough Silvennoinen created a career as a blues guitarist-singer. He started his career as a musician in the early 1970s in the band Tabula Rasa. After Tabula Rasa ceased operations, Silvennoinen moved Mikko Alatalo Join the Coitus Int band. In the late 1980s, he co-founded the band Q Stone.

Silvennoinen has been married three times in total. He has five children.