Pioneer of church-based hospice care

Kirsti Mirjami Aalto, a leading figure in spiritual care within healthcare and a former director at the Church's Hospital Chaplaincy, died in Helsinki on May 29, 2026. She was 79 years old and succumbed to a serious illness.

Aalto, born in Ylistaro on January 28, 1947, was the youngest of four children. She earned a Master of Theology from the University of Helsinki in 1972 and was ordained as a priest in 1988. Her distinguished career spanned several key roles: she served as the head of the parish chaplaincy department at the Deaconess Institute of Helsinki from 1974 to 1981, worked as a training secretary for the Church's Hospital Chaplaincy Center from 1982 to 1990, and ultimately led the Church's Hospital Chaplaincy from 1991 to 2011.

For nearly a decade, Aalto focused on training and supervising new hospital chaplains, drawing on her qualifications as a psychotherapist and church supervisor, as well as clinical pastoral education (CPE) in the United States. She possessed a remarkable ability to perceive contemporary issues and integrate them into public discourse, establishing herself as a pioneer in church-based hospice care. Her 1986 book, "Saattohoito" (Hospice Care), received the state's Award for Public Information in 1987. Beyond training, her literary contributions influenced the church and society at large, with numerous publications on spiritual care, supervision, and hospice care.

Aalto was known for her meticulous, responsible, and expert work, earning respect for her thorough preparation. Colleagues and those she assisted trusted her deeply due to her considerate nature and attentive listening skills. Her life's mission was to ensure compassionate and respectful spiritual care for all who needed it. She handled crisis situations with discretion, offering confidential conversation, and collaborated with the police during the tsunami crisis response. Aalto was also an active participant in Nordic, European, and global spiritual care networks, serving as president of the European Council for Pastoral Care from 2001 to 2005. The European Network of Health Care Chaplains recognized her as an honorary member in 2010.

In her personal life, Aalto enjoyed organizing poetry circles, baking, and following culture and sports, particularly football and ice hockey. She was an avid reader and a frequent moviegoer.