I am of Latvian heritage. My great-grandmother's name is Zelma Otilija Frida Innus. Her maiden name is Zelma Otijia Frida Rusins. She was born on May 6,1913 in Riga, Latvia Zelma had two sisters, Anna and Milda, four brothers Arnolds, Alberts, Rikards, and Arturs. In her childhood she had a lot of chores to do everyday. Zelma went to school and graduated from High School in Latvia After finishing school she worked in a photography studio in the city of Riga At the age of 24 Zelma married an artist named Alfejs Bromuets. In 1938, she had a daughter and named her Monika.

World War 2 started a couple years later. Zelma's husband Alfejs was drafted and had to fight in the war. In the early years of the war she had a second daughter named Astrida. During the course of the war she had to flee from her home with her sister Milda and her children. They went to Sweden and they lived there for two years. Zelma and Milda decided that they must go to America to live with their other sister Anna They came to America on a ship and went to Methuen, Massachusetts to live with their sister. Anna and her family had to pay a large sum of money for the transportation of Zelma, Milda and their daughters. Zelma heard that her husband had been killed in the war. In America Zelma had to support her two children so while she worked she also took college classes to obtain a job in the engineering department of a large company. In the 1950's she got remarried to Martins Innus. As time went on, many years later Zelma learned that her first husband had survived the war and was living in Latvia. She had already made a life in America and so she decided to stay in America.

My great-grandmother, Zelma Otilija Frida Innus, has told me that her strength to survive through those very difficult years came from her faith and trust in God.

Latvian jewelry (amber and rhinestones)

 

Latvian fabric patterns made by Larisa's Great Grandmother

 

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