Elva Palo’s art piece “The Beacon” 

Hele was given her name by her adoring father Heido Laarne. He felt that Hele, “light”, generated a positive and lucky future for his daughter. Names were important to Heido. He was born Ervin Laarman but changed his name to Laarne during a period when there was a national interest in sounding “more Estonian”. Heido was a journalist who worked for a newspaper in Pärnu and also provided skills as a commercial artist, usually with calligraphy, sign painting and decorative design. Heido’s time at home included formal painting with oils to practice skills with portraiture and landscapes. His cousin Märt Laarman was a successful professional artist and cubist printmaker. 

Heido spent his childhood growing up with many relatives and friends of the Laarman family. He married a childhood friend Hella Sillaots, the daughter of a widower, Sea Captain Jakob Sillaots and his wife Anu. Hella was a bright student at school and eventually studied and worked as a pharmacist at Adamsoni Apteek in Pärnu. Hella and Heido had a home in the old part of Pärnu with a large property and both welcomed a daughter Hele who became the centre of their family unit. Vanaema Anu lived with Hella and Heido and Hele’s bond with her grandmother was very special. Heido’s sister Alma was a professional nanny who cared for Hele while Heido and Hella worked in downtown Pärnu.