Obituary of Aina Martens

AINA MARTENS

1939 – 2018

It is with deep sorrow that Aina’s sister Ille-Mai and brother-in-law Janis announce her passing, from cancer, on Sunday, January 14, 2018, at the Palliative Care Unit, Scarborough General Hospital.  We can truly be thankful that at the end she was spared the suffering and agony we had all feared.

Aina’s life was eventful.  As a child she survived WWII in occupied Estonia, the loss of her home, her country, her father and many other members of her family.  This was followed by post-war refugee experience in Sweden.  In Canada Aina enjoyed a brilliant academic career and an extensive successful working life with the Federal Government as a Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board.  Work was her hobby and her refuge, and to relinquish it at the age of 67 was a sacrifice.

Those who knew Aina will always remember her for her sense of humour, her razor-sharp wit, her enjoyment of irony, her love of fun and laughter, and her relentless determination to live life in her own way.  She leaves behind numerous relatives and some very dear and true friends who were there for her, not just in the good years, but also in the last five or six highly challenging ones.  Thank you Isabel, Tuula, Rita, Vivian, Julie and Joan.  Thank you Mai, Reet, Jaan and Toivo.  Thank you for laughing with her to the end, for keeping her company and for stimulating her wonderful mind that never gave way, either to cancer or to Parkinson’s.

A sincere thank-you also to the fifth-floor caregiving staff at Midland Gardens Care Centre for all their efforts on Aina’s behalf, and to the Scarborough General Hospital for easing her final passing.

Cremation has taken place.  At a future date, a private memorial service and final farewell to Aina will be held at the HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME A.W. MILES – NEWBIGGING CHAPEL, 1403 Bayview Avenue (south of Davisville Avenue).  If desired, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Parkinson Society would be appreciated.  Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com.