ANTS UIN (published on January 31, 2009)
| ANTS UIN November 24, 1923 - January 27, 2009 MARIA UIN June 16, 1921 - January 27, 2009 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the deaths of loving spouses Ants and Maria Uin of Winnipeg, on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at Riverview Health Centre. After courageous battles with a series of medical challenges, Ants passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning, followed a mere hours later by his loving wife Maria -- finally together after illness had kept them apart for so long. ANTS UIN Ants was a strong, hardworking man who loved life and all its complexities. He was born and raised in Tartu, Estonia, where he spent his childhood in outdoor pursuits such as fishing, hunting and swimming, especially with his cousin Viktor. He enjoyed competitive swimming at the national level, and he traveled to many places with his team mates. During the Second World War, after fighting in the army to defend his country, he moved first to Finland, then to Sweden. In 1951 he emigrated to Canada where he settled in Winnipeg. There, he met the love of his life, Maria Paris, also of Estonian heritage, who he married shortly thereafter, and dedicated the rest of his life to. His career included working in the medical technology field with X-Ray and Radium, Westinghouse, and other companies. His love of all things technical led him to a career shift as an exercise physiology technician with the University of Manitoba and to the creation of a private consulting business in selling, servicing and setting up of professional Monark exercise bicycles and equipment. Ants was passionate about cross-country skiing and marathon running, spending many hours training for various competitions. Ants also continued his love of the outdoors throughout his working life and in retirement, spending many hours on fishing, hunting, mushroom picking, water skiing and nature photography, especially with his daughter Linda and good friends Koenraad and Cecilia. The cottage at Nutimik Lake held a special place in the hearts of both Ants and Maria. Ants loved the view of the lake from his dining room table, where he diligently watched birds (and the occasional bear) at the feeder and identified them with his many field guides. In the autumn of his life, he was able to totally dedicate his life to Maria, his loving wife of 56 years. They cherished every moment together as true 'soulmates'. Remaining to forever cherish Ants' memory are his only child Linda and her husband Ken Melnick, grandchildren Jenna-Lee and Asia, and numerous friends and relatives in Canada and overseas. He was predeceased by an infant son, and by his parents Siegfried and Linda. The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the entire staff of Thorvaldson's Care Centre and Riverview Health Centre, particularly those on CD1, for their care, support and compassion given to our dear father/grandfather. MARIA UIN (nee PARIS) Maria was a loving, caring and beautiful person whose enjoyment in life was to make people happy. She was born and raised in Tartu, Estonia, into a family whose focus was very much on the creative arts. Known to many as 'Mansu' as a child, her early experience with piano and dance lessons and her interest in theatre and opera sprouted her lifelong love of music and dance. Forced from her native country by the Second World War, she worked overseas with the United Nations Relief Agency in Germany. She then emigrated to Canada in 1949, bringing her mother with her and settling in Winnipeg, first in the employ of the Osler family as a nanny. Her independent nature allowed her to go her own way, and she successfully ran a dance school and taught ballet and contemporary dance to many budding dancers at the York School of Dance in the 1950's. This enabled her to buy her own house -- an unusual feat for a woman in that era -- and soon after came marriage to her true love, Ants, a career move to Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company, and the birth of daughter Linda. Maria worked with Wawanesa until her retirement at age 65, and she spoke very fondly of her colleagues and experiences there. Maria cherished spending time with her husband Ants at their cottage at Nutimik Lake, and particularly enjoyed sunny days on their deck or at the beach, or feeding birds (or sometimes bears), chipmunks, raccoons and the various creatures that visited them regularly. She dedicated her life to caring for others as a wife, mother, grandmother and good friend. She lived her life as a free spirit and with a smile, and she was always asking others to Come -- get a chair and sit down with me . The greatest gift she left us was her never ending passion for her family and her selfless, loving nature. That the timing of her passing was only hours after Ants took his last breath is an example of the deep bond that existed between them, and the love that they shared. Together with only child Linda and her husband Ken Melnick, grandchildren, Jenna-Lee and Asia, numerous friends in Canada and relatives in the United States and overseas are left to cherish her memory. Maria was predeceased by her infant son, brother Jaan and by her parents Johan and Maria. Special thanks go out to the entire staff of Thorvaldson's Care Centre, Deer Lodge Centre, and Riverview Care Centre, especially the staff of 2W, where Maria resided prior to her passing, for all their kindness, support and care. Prayers for both Ants and Maria will be held on Sunday, February 1, at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Memories in Wojcik's Funeral Chapel, 1020 Main Street at Manitoba Avenue. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 2, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, corner of Corydon Ave, and Stafford St. (255 Stafford St.). Interment will follow in Assumption Roman Catholic Cemetery, 3990 Portage Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada in memory of Ants and Maria. |
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