LIFE

Born February 15, 1926 in Bauska, Latvia.  Daughter of Karlis and Katrina Silins.  She was the sole survivor of her family of two sisters Austra and Velta and brother Valdis.  In 1945 during WWII, Skaidrite and her family fled Latvia during the threat of the Soviet and German occupation and invasion. They lived in displaced persons camp in Germany for six years, before being sponsored by the Lutheran church to the U.S. where they eventually settled in Grand Haven, Michigan. Skaidrite met her husband Alberts in the displaced persons camp in Germany.  She travelled to the U.S. on a ship alone with her daughter Dainuvite while pregnant with her second daughter Saulvija.  She lived in Grand Haven for 66 years and moved to Gilroy, California in 2018 to live with her son Zintis and fiancé Monica where she loved to go for walks, go to the ocean, sit and watch the hummingbirds and look at the Santa Cruz mountains.  In Grand Haven she enjoyed gardening and always had fresh flowers in her home.  She was an avid reader especially of the Bible, loved classical music and the opera.  She was a foodie at heart and enjoyed cooking healthy meals and baking different breads for family and as gifts.  She cooked for her sister Austra and nephew Modris well into her 80's as her sister lived to be 101. Her bread, pickles, potato salad, piragi, and safflower bread were always in demand.  She would never turn down a hamburger/fries, taco or lasagna dinner.

FAMILY

She is survived by her son Zintis (Monica), granddaughter Brita (Mark) Ferris and great grandson Reed Ferris, nephews: Andy (Patti) Salka and Modris Silins, great nieces: Andrea (Troy) Henderson, Kristen (Brian) Morrissey, Judite Silins, Jolanta Silins, great nephew Tim (Patty) Salka, and two son-in-laws: John Miko who had coffee with her everyone Saturday morning and Paul (Barbara Ann) Dalberg who along with John made sure she was never alone on holidays.  Stacy Stone, Brandon (Betsi) Stone, and Jason (Stacey) Stone played a special role in her life as extended family.  Stacy had a standing Monday lunch with Skaidrite and as a nurse was always there for medical consultations with her doctors.  As well Greg Tuggle who was like a son and helped her often and made her favorite tacos.  Sadly, she was pre-deceased by her two daughters Dainuvite and Saulvija.

SERVICE

Interment and Celebration of Life will be held in Grand Haven, Michigan in Spring, 2022 for family and friends to share a day of remembering Skaidrite.  Memorial donations can be made:

The American Lung Association www.lung.org

American Breast Cancer Foundation www.abcf.org

Alzheimers Association www.alz.org