Aina Abolins

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2010 at 1:00 PM to celebrate the life of Aina Abolins. The service will be held at the Latvian Ev. Lutheran United Church of Kalamazoo, 122 Cherry Hill St., Kalamazoo, MI 49006, with a private interment at Riverside Cemetery to be held at a later date. Aina passed away peacefully on March 1, 2010, after a brief unexpected illness, with both of her daughters by her side. She was born in 1921 in Valmiera, Latvia, the third of six children, to Janis and Gertrude (Zatlers) Vilde. Aina was united in marriage with Augusts Abolins in 1941. She and her family emigrated from Latvia, spent six years in Germany and came to Kalamazoo in November 1950. Aina attended business college in Latvia and graduated from Parson's Business College in Kalamazoo. She worked at the Division of Continuing Education at Western Michigan University for more than 25 years. After retiring from WMU, she enjoyed gardening, reading, and international travel. She was an active member of the Kalamazoo Latvian Lutheran Church and served as treasurer and secretary for both the Kalamazoo Latvian American Association and the Ladies Guild of the Kalamazoo Latvian Lutheran Church for many years. When sight failed her, she continued to attend meetings and to be of service to both organizations. Aina was well known by friends and family for her quiet, helpful demeanor and her often unexpected and witty sense of humor. Aina was preceded in death by her husband, Augusts Abolins; and by her brothers, Janis, Juris, and Ansis Vilde; and her sister, Baiba Vilde, all of Latvia. She is survived by her daughters, Mara Abolins of Kalamazoo and Liga Abolins of Lexington, KY; and her brother, Karlis Vilde; and numerous other relatives in Latvia. Memorial donations in her honor may be made to the Latvian Ev. Lutheran United Church of Kalamazoo or to the charity of your choice.Joldersma & Klein 917 S. Burdick 343-2628.