Vija Saulstarit Grimba (née Kremanis), age 97, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 14, 2026, in Mississauga, Ontario.

Born on August 10, 1928, in Riga, Latvia, Vija was the beloved daughter of the late Erika and Augusts Kremanis and cherished sister of Ausma of Longview, Washington.

Vija immigrated to Canada with her family in 1950, where she built a life defined by hard work, creativity, and community involvement. She established her own successful hairstyling business and became an active and well-respected member of Toronto’s Latvian community. She married Martin Grimba in 1954, and together they raised two sons, Ivar and Martin Jr.

An energetic and determined woman, Vija discovered a passion for golf in the mid-1960s and quickly became one of the most accomplished golfers in the Latvian community. Over the years, she won the Canadian and North American Latvian Women’s Championships more than a dozen times each. She also earned Women’s Club Championship titles at both Flemingdon Park and Sturgeon Point Golf Clubs, where her competitive spirit and skill earned her lasting admiration.

Vija was equally renowned for her extraordinary talent as a baker. Her beautifully crafted cakes, lovingly created from scratch, became a centerpiece of countless graduations, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and shared with family, friends, and the wider community.

She also had a deep love of travel. Alongside her husband Martin and sister Ausma, Vija travelled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and North America, embracing the cultures, landscapes, and experiences each destination offered.

Vija will be remembered for her quiet generosity, love of photography, strong work ethic, and unwavering devotion to her family. She was always ready to help a neighbour, support a friend, or lend a hand wherever it was needed. Her warmth, strength, and kindness will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Vija is lovingly remembered by her son, Ivar Grimba, and daughter-in-law, Krista Johnston; her grandchildren, Valerie Grimba and her partner Mark Traveller, and Erik Grimba and his partner Maddie Phillips; and her great-grandchildren, Wolfgang, Luiza, and Griffin Traveller.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Martin Grimba (2016), and her son, Martin Grimba Jr. (2022) (Rebecca Whitney). She is also lovingly remembered by Martin Jr.’s children, Evan Grimba and his wife Amy, and Curtis Grimba and his partner Brittany Scowen, as well as her great-grandchildren, Norah and Oscar.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at York Cemetery, 160 Beecroft Road, Toronto, Ontario. Please RSVP by way of email to grimba@rogers.com before Tuesday, May 26th.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Latvian Church of Toronto (https://www.stjohnslatvian.ca/) or the Latvian Cultural Center (https://latviancentre.org/).

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Port Credit Residences for their compassionate care and kindness.