Longtime Holmdel, New Jersey resident, Sinikka Massa (Grönroos), passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, May 23, 2026, at the age of 92.
Born in Ulvila, Finland, Sinikka survived two wars as a young child. Despite the hardships of wartime, she often spoke of growing up with her best friend and still enjoying the simple joys of childhood. In her early years, she had the opportunity to work in Finland and internationally in Sweden and the United Kingdom.
While working for Karair Airlines, Sinikka experienced an emergency landing in the Congo during the outbreak of civil war, taking the time to ensure her passengers remained calm. She met her future husband, Leo Massa, a 1960 U.S. Olympic cross-country skier and proud Finnish American, in Finland at a local coffee shop while Leo was competing in a ski race.
Sinikka and Leo married in 1962, and in 1963 moved to Holmdel, to the home Leo built for their family. After Leo’s passing in 2009, Sinikka continued managing the family business with the help of her son. She worked closely with contractors and tenants while carefully maintaining the business records and day-to-day operations. Over the years, many tenants came to appreciate the care she took in maintaining the properties, often noting how she personally visited the offices once or twice each day to make sure everything was in good order.
Outside of work, Sinikka devoted herself to her family, especially her grandchildren. She cherished summer days spent with them at parks and gardens, or enjoying trips for ice cream. She was especially known for her beloved “cookie bag,” always filled with favorite cookies and sweets.
Sinikka also treasured holidays and family gatherings. She delighted in preparing large multicourse meals and creating warm, memorable celebrations that often ended with peaceful conversation by the fireplace, accompanied by cheese, crackers, and laughter shared among loved ones.
Recreationally, Sinikka loved to read from her expansive collection of encyclopedias, bake, and garden. Most notably, Sinikka was famous for her oatmeal lace cookies, mac and cheese, and pulla (Finnish Cardamom bread). While not working, Sinikka maintained vast gardens, growing a wide variety of native flora to the region, often rivaling one of her most favorite locations, Longwood Gardens, in selection and design. Sinikka also took great care in needlework and sequin-work, making gorgeous Christmas decorations for her family.
She is survived by her son, Yrjö Massa; daughter-in-law, Patricia Massa; three grandchildren; a beloved granddog; extended family in Finland; friends; and her lifelong friend of more than 80 years, Marita Keto-Seppälä.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. June 6 inside the cemetery mausoleum from the entrance at Holmdel Road.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Sinikka’s memory be made to the American Heart Association or Blood Cancer United.
The article originally appeared in the June 4 – 10, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
