Veronika Ozols

Veronika Ozols, beloved mother and grandmother died peacefully in her sleep July 10, 2011. Her son, Robert, was at her bedside. Veronika was born in Riga, Latvia on April 23, 1916 and married Kazimir Dukalskis April 10, 1939. World War II intervened in the life of Veronika, her husband and son, breaking up the family. To escape the war, and find a safer life, Veronika took her son to Berlin, Germany in order to arrive at the American zone. She and her son, neither speaking a word of English, arrived in New York as immigrants in 1949. Veronika worked in textile mills in Riga and in Rhode Island, her first home in the United States. She married Arvids Ozols in New Haven, Connecticut in 1967, where she lived until a move to Long Beach, California and then to Roseburg, Oregon in 1974 after Arvids died. Veronika enjoyed Roseburg and the surrounding scenery. In her later years, she was especially fond of feeding the ducks in Stewart Park and peacefully watching the river flow by with her good friend Bertie at her side. Omi, as her grandchildren called her, amused her family by tasting fast food and pizza for the first time when she was in her 70's and amazed her daughter-in-law by learning to drive. She enjoyed some of the food but didn't continue the driving. Veronika most of all loved her family above all else and her family knew that her love never wavered. Omi enjoyed working with textiles and was an accomplished seamstress who made sure her young granddaughters were perfectly turned out in the most meticulously made and fashionable clothes and Halloween costumes for all the grandchildren. She loved to cook and nothing made her happier than sharing the gift of her many delicious Latvian specialties with her family. Veronika was a woman of great courage, who remains an inspiration to her family. She is survived by her son, Robert, daughter-in-law Regina, grandchildren Renada, Malena, Robert, Alexander and new granddaughter Theresa; great grandchildren Emma and Oliver and new great grandchildren Jonah, Savannah and Isabella; nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Her brother and sister predeceased her. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Brad Townsend for his kind and compassionate care and appreciate his view of Mom as a real person, not as an aged lady. We thank Rose Haven Nursing home for making her life comfortable and are grateful for their kindhearted care. At Veronika's wish, there will be no service. The family asks that any remembrances be made to any cause for the care of children.