Natalia Antons Obituary (1919 - 2008) - Three Rivers, Michigan

Natalia Antons, age 89 of Three Rivers, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers. She was born Nov. 27, 1919 in Christopol, Russia where escaping from the wrath of WWI, her parents and older sister fled from Latvia. The family returned to their homeland in 1922 and settled in Liepaja. She was married to Emests Antons on Dec. 31, 1938. Upon the occupation of Latvia by the Soviet Union, Natalia, her husband and son, Maris fled to Germany where they lived in the Displaced Persons Camps and where daughter Mirdza and son, Eriks were born. In 1949 the family immigrated to the United States, residing in the Cleveland area. In 1995 she moved to Three Rivers. Natalia was employed by Halle Brothers Co. as a seamstress. She was a member of the Latvian Ev. Lutheran United Church of Kalamazoo and a lifetime member of the American Latvian Association and Latvian Center Garezers. She was a former member of the United Latvian Ev. Lutheran Church of Cleveland. Natalia was a soft spoken, kind, gentle person and a very loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be dearly missed by her family. Natalia was preceded in death by her father, Fricis Briedis; her mother, Ann (Ekis) Briedis; step-mother, Anna (Strautins) Briedis; her husband, Emests; granddaughter, Kristine Malinak of North Carolina; her sisters, Rozalija Apoga, Valija Skubina, and Ema Kirsfelda; niece, Dr. Ingrida Skubina; nephews, Brunis Skubins and Andris Apogs, all of Latvia. Natalia is survived by a daughter and two sons, Mirdza (Tom) Malinak of Winston-Salem, NC, Eriks (Ilze) Antons of Chicago, IL, and Maris (Ilze Berzins) Antons of Three Rivers; 8 grandchildren, Dr Robert (Dr Sandra Moreira) Malinak of Carmel, IN, David Malinak of NC, Ann (Ryan) Greenberg of Puff Town, NC, Andris Antons of Chicago, Karlis Antons of Boulder, CO, Rudis Antons of Phoenix, AZ, Peteris Antons of Bloomington, IN, and Emelia Antons of Three Rivers; 2 great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Jacob Malinak of Carmel, IN; a nephew, a niece, and a step-daughter residing in Latvia. A graveside service will take place at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Sara Elite officiating. The family suggests that memorials be directed to the Latvian Center Garezers, 57732 Lucas Road, Three Rivers, MI 49093. Online register and condolences may be left at www.efhchapel.com