Vesa-Matti Loiri had hoped that people would laugh at his memorial service.
Finnish entertainment legend Vesa-Matti Loirin the funeral was held on Tuesday in Helsinki.
Loiri was blessed for his last journey in St. John’s Church in the presence of family, friends and colleagues. After the blessing ceremony, a memorial service was held at Säätytalo, which serves as a state meeting and representation space.
Loir’s longtime friend Lenita Airisto tells Iltalehte that the memorial service was intimate and touching. He gave a speech at the event, which Loir’s family had asked him to do. In his speech, Airisto talked about, among other things, that becoming a great artist is a long process.
There were also moments of joy at Vesa-Matti Loir’s memorial service. Jussi Eskola
– In that, above all, finding your own voice is important. Loiri found his voice in a very wide area. He grasped everything relentlessly. Underperformance does not lead to top performance, says Airisto.
– The main thing that remained was great gratitude for what a great artist can give his audience, friends and colleagues in the form of an example.
Airisto reflects that Loiri also found her voice by applying to the top of the entertainment industry, no matter what age they were.
– Through that dialogue, each of them found their own voice. It came out yesterday from the musicians who performed at the event. They got to thank Loir for how he helped them in their careers.
Lenita Airisto became emotional at Loir’s funeral. Mikko Huisko
Atmosphere on the roof
At the end of his speech, Airisto praised his old friend for his attitude towards life.
– Throughout his life, he saw new possibilities. His attitude also took him to the next stage. After all, he reacted to the passing away in a way that stopped people. He invited his friends to his home and prepared a farewell party. He said he was curious to know what would happen after this, Airisto recalls.
What touched Airisto the most on the day of the funeral was how many of Loir’s friends came and how his wishes were followed. One of the guests was the president Sauli Niinistön spouse, poet Jenni Haukio. Airisto says that Haukio was at the memorial service until the end.
– He was Loir’s friend too. It wasn’t just showing off, Airisto says about Haukio’s participation.
Airisto and Jorma “Nona” Alvesalo chatted on the steps of the church after the funeral. Jenni Gästgivar
One of Loir’s wishes for his funeral was a fast-paced song performed by Samuli Edelmann at the blessing ceremony Peggy. Edelmann performed the song again at the memorial service.
– The whole crowd stood up and lived together. It was a fantastic musical release and the atmosphere rose to the ceiling, the walls almost caved in, Airisto describes.
– When I left at the end of the evening and saw the Säätytalo staff, I told them that “you’ve probably never been to a memorial service like this” and they replied that “we really haven’t”, Airisto laughs.
Also Loir’s childhood friend Jorma “Nona” Alvesalo praises the memorial service as warm. He mentions that Paula Vesala also sang at the event.
– Vesku’s wish was that there would be no crying but laughter, and that’s exactly how it turned out. Suddenly they started dancing. It was a very special occasion for Vesku. Of course it was wistful, but it wasn’t a traditional mourning party at all, Alvesalo tells Iltalehte.