Sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, breast cancer survivor, gardener. Born May 20, 1913, in Riga. Died Sept. 14, 2011, in Toronto of old age, at 98.
Aina Zvilna often recalled her idyllic rural childhood on her family's farm in Latvia. The sixth child of eight born to Andrejs and Milda Jurjans, Aina grew up surrounded by siblings, extended family, farmhands, cows and horses.
As a child, she had a narrow escape with scarlet fever and celebrated her recovery by dancing in the fields in the white dress intended for her coffin. She lost three young siblings to the same illness.
Her artistic abilities met with her cheeky attitude as a young girl when she constructed a nude figure out of snow on the steps of her farmhouse, much to the shock of the farmhands.
Aina studied architecture at university, where she met her future husband, Jekabs Zvilna. She had daughters Dace and Aina in Riga. The Second World War forced the family to flee as displaced persons to rural Germany. Twins Peter and Toms were born. Jekabs travelled to Canada first, followed by Aina and their children in 1951. In Canada, daughter Ieva and son Ugis completed the family.
Aina's sisters and brother were scattered across North America, but the family remained close, hosting celebrations and staying in touch by phone or letter. The bond between Aina and her siblings was profound.
On arriving to visit Aina, you were expected to nap whether it was 9 a.m. or p.m. If your visit was expected, she would have baked at least one cake in your honour, apple flan and mocha meringue torte being her most requested. In the last few years, in an effort to spare her the preparatory baking, family visits were unannounced. She would then spend the visit standing, mixing and baking.
One attribute that surely came from Aina's experience during the war was her ability to find eight uses for anything. She was the original MacGyver. With old pantyhose, an empty onion bag and a sardine can, she could build a home.
Aina spent most of her life in her garden. She loved her magnolia tree, black tulips and the tall grasses that would provide joy in the winter months. When weather drove her indoors, she built furniture, sewed and immersed herself in reading. She knew current affairs in depth. She was proud of her successful battle against the government arguing for support payments to cover her daughter's U.S. hospitalization for schizophrenia.
Aina died peacefully in her sleep looking out at her beautiful garden. One of the last words she spoke was " skaisti" (beautiful) upon her bed being placed where she could gaze outside. She chose her resting place to be in Latvia alongside her beloved grandfather, and so next spring we will all travel there to bid " ar Dievu" (farewell) to our beloved Aina.
By Kristine Mifsud, Aina's granddaughter.