Rita DeMetra (nee Lieknins)

Passed away peacefully on January 21, 2022 in Toronto.

Rita is survived by her husband George, nieces Sharon (John), Karen (Robert), Ella (Stephen), nephews Alan, Mark and Paul and sister-in-law Mary and brother-in-law Nicholas (Gladys).

Rita was born in Latvia just prior to WW2 and as a child witnessed the invasion of two successive armies and suffered the hardships endured by refugees in times of hostilities.

She was greeted with warmth by the Australians who gave her the opportunity to grow and flourish as a youth and young adult. She emigrated to Canada for family unification and as in Australia was afforded the opportunity to make choices unattainable in many countries of the world.

She studied at Western University and University of Toronto and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters in Education.

Rita taught at Ontario's Colleges and was active in the community life of Toronto, volunteering in the arts and helping those less fortunate, an instinct acquired as a youth.