Antonija Sinkevics' Obituary
Antonija Dzenis Sinkevics, age 96, of Grand Haven, Michigan, died at her home on May 6. She was born in the farming community of Piliski (Varkava), Latvia, on June 8, 1924, to Antons and Veronika Dzenis. In 1945, Antonija, her parents and younger sister, Pauline, fled to Germany as Russian forces stormed in to take control of Latvia. Their harrowing journey included surviving numerous calamities, including the bombing of Dresden in February 1945. Antonija met her husband, Henriks, in a displaced persons (DP) camp in Fischbach, Germany, and they married on May 16, 1948. During this time period, Antonija also began studies at Erlangen University, traveling to her classes by train. In January 1952, Antonija and Henriks emigrated from Germany to the United States and settled in Grand Haven, where Antonija’s parents and sister already had made their home. Henriks eventually established his own business as an independent contractor and carpenter, building the home where they would live out their lives. Antonija created a loving and supportive environment for her family in the Ohio Avenue/Pine Court neighborhood. Always gracious and generous to relatives, friends and neighbors, Antonija was a champion gardener, creating resplendent plantings of flowers, shrubs, vegetables and fruit that she nurtured and displayed as one of her true passions. A voracious reader and writer, Antonija had deep faith and was a longtime member and supporter of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grand Haven and Our Lady of Aglona Latvian parish in Grand Rapids. Antonija and Henriks loved to travel the country and the world, including trips to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and their native Latvia. In 2002, she was honored by the city of Grand Haven on her 78th birthday, commemorating the 50th anniversary of her arrival in the United States. Antonija is preceded in death by her husband, Henriks Sinkevics; parents Antons and Veronika Dzenis; sister and brother-in-law Pauline and Dr. Zigfrids Zadvinskis; son-in-law Michael Turcott; and many relatives and in-laws in Latvia. She is survived by daughter, Irene Turcott, of Portage; son, John (Elizabeth) Sinkevics, of Rockford; grandchildren Joshua (Chessa) Turcott, of Livonia; Lauren (Brad) Lukasik, of Westmont, IL; Paul Sinkevics (Kendra Nielsen), of New York City, NY; and Anna Sinkevics (Kevin Gilbert), of Grand Rapids; great-grandchildren Jackson Turcott and Isla Lukasik; and relatives and friends in Latvia, the United States and Canada. Antonija will be interred at Lake Forest Cemetery in Grand Haven, Michigan. A private graveside service is planned with a celebration of life occurring at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Hospice of North Ottawa Community or to the charity of your choice. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at http://www.sytsemafh.com.
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