With profound sadness we announce the passing of Velta, our loving and devoted wife, mother and friend to all whose lives she touched, on Monday November 25, 2019.

She left us in her 92nd year while sleeping peacefully at the Waterford long term care residence in Oakville, Ontario.

Velta was born on March 18th, 1927 in the Rudzāti Parish - Preiļi Region of Latvija to parents Ernest and Pauline Puide. She was the youngest of four siblings. During the 2nd World War in her teenage years, like so many others, Velta, her sister Zenta and parents were forced to flee their family farm and possessions. They travelled to Eslingen, Germany and as displaced persons or DPs and were placed in a camp where they lived until the end of the war. In 1949, as part of the mass emigration, she boarded a ship on her own and arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax with $5 in her pocket.

She eventually settled in Hamilton Ontario and, in 1953, met her future husband Laimons (Bob) Ozols at a dance. It was love at first sight and they married in March, 1954.

They went on to move to Toronto, and then finally to Oakville in 1961 where they raised their family. She was the beloved mother of Sandra (Ian MacDonald) and Valdis (Jodi Ozols), proud grandmother of Pauline (Dan Mourning) and Alex (Bex Lakin) and thrilled to have recently become a great grandmother to Avery Quinn. Velta was also a loving great aunt to Leah Zommers (Bruno Lutterotti) and Kristina Zommers ( Jeff DeRushie) and children Carson and Piper. She was predeceased by her her niece Sarmite Zommers and her husband George Zommers. She leaves her Goddaughter and niece Elizabeta Lucane in Riga, Latvija.

Velta lived a full life as a wonderful mother, homemaker and worker in the manufacturing sector.

She was a proud member of the Latvian-Canadian community. Velta particularly enjoyed going to Sidrabene to visit with her many friends. She had a wonderful sense of humour and loved spending time with her friends and family. She also had a kind heart and soft spot for animals, especially cats - over the years she took in a number of strays who became treasured family members.

Most of all she loved her family and instilled in her children strong values that have served them well. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

A celebration of Velta’s life and interment service will be held at York Cemetery, 160 Beecroft Rd, North York, Ontario on Saturday, December 14th, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Oakville and Milton Humane Society would be appreciated.