Vecumnieki celebrates 90th birthday of Antoņina Zālīte, Ukrainian-born local icon
Antoņina Zālīte, born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, who worked in Kazakh mines and later moved to Latvia, was honored on her 90th birthday in Vecumnieki.
On Monday, July 20, Antoņina Zālīte was celebrated in Vecumnieki as she marked her 90th birthday earlier this month. Her birthday was on July 17, and she celebrated with her children, grandchildren, and other relatives at the "Aveņi" tavern, enjoying games and memories.
Zālīte's life journey began in Kharkiv, Ukraine. In her youth, she worked in the mines of Kazakhstan, where she met her future husband from Latvia. They married in 1959 and moved to Latvia the following year. Initially living near Nereta, later in Misa and Beibeži, they built their own home in Vecumnieki in 1971, where she still resides.
Upon moving to Latvia, she was determined to learn Latvian and worked her entire career at the local grocery store in Vecumnieki, becoming a familiar and beloved figure. Her greatest joy is her family: a son, a daughter, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She retired at 55 and pursued knitting, but due to hand problems, she no longer knits.
In 2020, she traveled to Ukraine to meet her father and half-sisters after a long separation. She expresses gratitude for living in Latvia, appreciating the peace. For her anniversary, Lauris Mediņš, head of the Vecumnieki parish, presented her with a monetary award and flowers from the Bauska municipality.
