Outi Johanna Francis

Outi Johanna (Kunnas) Francis, age 58, of Bainbridge Island, Washington, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2026, surrounded by family. Outi was born on April 10, 1968, in Helsinki, Finland, to Risto and Terttu Kunnas.

When first meeting Outi, you immediately felt her unique presence and essence. She possessed elegance, style, grace, and humility, combined with an unselfish, calm, and poised demeanor, with goodness at her core. She always placed others first. The world has lost a very special person, a light that shone brilliantly on all of us.

Outi was an amazing wife, the matriarch of her family, and mother to three wonderful young men: Matias, Sami, and Kai. Outi’s kindness and goodness are forever ingrained in her sons, which she was so proud of. The Finnish heritage and values she instilled in them will be carried on for generations.

There is a saying that comes to mind when thinking about Outi: the value of one’s life is measured by the impact one makes on others. In this respect, Outi’s impact was immeasurable, endless, and will be forever felt.

Her influence on others started at a very young age. Outi was a nationally ranked junior Finnish figure skater and, after an injury in her teenage years, poured all her passion and energy into a coaching career that lasted more than 45 years. Outi’s most fulfilling moments came while helping her students reach their full potential and discover a love and passion for skating.

In the sport she loved, Outi excelled in so many ways. As her students recently wrote, “you helped every skater grow through your dedication, love, and energy” and “thank you for sharing the joy of figure skating and for being a source of endless inspiration”. Being on the ice with her students brought her joy and was a special place of peace.

Outi had maturity beyond her years and a willingness to take on big challenges. At the age of 18, she started coaching a team of 17 skaters known as the Helsinki Rockettes, an elite precision skating team. She was responsible for travel arrangements and choreography, taking her team to its first international competition, the 1989 Laval International in Canada. Outi coached The Rockettes from 1985 to 1992. During those seasons, the team earned first-place finishes in precision skating in 1986 and from 1988 to 1990. Since then, the Helsinki Rockettes have achieved a renowned status and recognition in their sport. Her impact and success helped lay the foundation for synchronized skating in Finland.

Outi’s proudest and most impactful moments in her skating profession came through her involvement with Special Olympics Washington, where she served as a skating coach for several years. Outi’s name and memory will be forever etched in the skating world.

While growing up in Helsinki, Outi always dreamed of earning her college degree abroad. After moving to the United States, she received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University in 1993. In her professional career, she set the gold standard for leadership, care, and work ethic.

Outi’s family is heartbroken and devastated, but her spirit and her sisu, the Finnish term for determination, resilience, strength, and wisdom, will live within them and carry them forward.

Outi was preceded in death by her father, Risto Kunnas. She is survived by her husband, Steve Francis; her sons, Matias Francis of Bozeman, MT, Sami Francis of Seattle, WA, and Kai Francis of Redmond, WA; her mother, Terttu Kunnas of Kotka, Finland; her sister, Virpi (Aarne) Helminen of Espoo, Finland; and family living in Finland and elsewhere.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bremerton Ice Skating Club. Donations may be made below or mailed to 1950 Homer Jones Dr., Bremerton, WA 98310. The family invites friends to share memories on this site and celebrate a life well lived. A celebration of life will be held; please stay tuned for details to be shared on this site.

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