Kai Merilä would have liked to accompany Matti Nykä on his last trip in 2019.
Kai Merilä and Matti Nykänen were friends who also worked together. Kari Pekonen
Matti Nykänen (1963–2019) was buried on 2 March 2019. His long-time friend, journalist I guess Merilä was not there. It was not Merilä’s own will.
Seikka’s former editor-in-chief Eeva-Helena Jokitaipale tells Matti Nykänen – Life is laiffii – in the final part of the documentary series, that the family did not accept Merilä at the funeral. The course of events is opened by Merilä herself.
First, Pia Nykänen sent Merila a message asking her to be one of the pallbearers. Merilä accepted the honorary task, of course. Three or four days later, another message came, in which it became clear that Merilä did not want to participate in the funeral. A couple of days later, the situation changed again. Merilä’s participation was now given the green light.
Pia Nykänen sent Kai Merila a message for the first time, when a day had passed since Matti Nykänen’s death. Theofanis Kavvadas, MTV3
At this point, Merilä’s head started to get confused, and she didn’t really know what it was all about. He called Matti Nykänen’s mother.
– I made a very humble call to Mati’s mother and shared her son’s passing. Finally, I thanked that I could come, Merilä says in the series.
– “I heard you said that I could come,” Merilä remembers saying One for Nykäne.
The answer was surprising. My mind had changed once again.
– He finally told me on the phone that “we have decided today that you can’t come.”
That was the last word. It was a tight spot for Merila – and it still is.
– I still feel bad that I didn’t get to accompany him to the grave. Phew.
Merilä had discussed death with her friend. That’s why he knew how to make Matti Nykänen’s wish come true, even if it happened two years after the funeral.
– Matti always said that “Kaitsu, when it’s time to leave him, bring one red rose to the grave”.
In 2021, Merilä walked with one red rose to the old cemetery in Jyväskylä and said her goodbyes.
Kai Merilä would have liked to accompany Matti Nykä on the last journey. Theofanis Kavvadas, MTV3
Matti Nykänen – Elämä on laiffii today on MTV3 at 21:00 & Katsomo. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.