Marta Gailitis

Newport, - Marta Svekris Gailitis, 88, of 65 Catherine Street Newport, died at her home on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 28, 2002.She was the wife of Dr. Janis Gailitis. Born in Valka, Latvia, on August 16, 1914, she was the daughter of the late Karlis and Marija Labzale Svekris. Her father was a fine furniture maker and her mother owned and operated a bakery. Mrs. Gailitis was educated in Latvia and earned her registered nurse degree there. In 1937, Mrs. Gailitis met her husband at a university lecture in Riga, the capital of Latvia. During that time, she attended nursing school and later became head nurse in the surgical ward of Rigas primary hospital. They were married in 1941. After graduating from nursing school, Mrs. Gailitis worked as a staff nurse in the military hopsital in Riga and later as head nurse in the neuro-psychiatric unit. Subsequently, she worked as a surgical staff nurse at the University Hospital of Riga. From 1941 to 1944, Mrs. Gailitis endured Russian and, later, German occupation of Latvia. In 1944, Mrs. Gailitis escaped the final Russian advance by fleeing west to Germany and reuniting after several months with her husband, who had been involuntarily relocated there. At the end of World War II, Mrs. Gailitis worked as a nurse for the British Army of the Rhine attending to displaced persons. In 1950, the Gailitis emigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of the Unitarian Church. Mrs. Gailitis graduated from the Newport Hospital School of Nursing and worked there as a staff nurse and later as Head Nurse of the Childrens Ward. In 1954, after Dr. Gailitis resumed his medical career as an Internist, Mrs. Gailitis served as his chief assistant and office nurse for the next 47 years. Mrs. Gailitis attended Salve Regina College and was active with the Newport Music Festival, the Newport Preservation Society, the Newport Garden Club, and the Redwood Library. She is survived by husband of 61 years, her son Peter Gailitis of Burlington, VT, two daughters Mara Koppel of Chicago, IL, and Anda Weyher of Wilton, CT, her sister Ruta Taube of Grand Rapids, MI and four grandchildren.To celebrate her life, there will be a memorial concert in her honor at the Newport Music Festival next summer. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Newport Music Festival, P.O. Box 3300, Newport, RI 02840. Arrangements are by the Hambly Funeral Home, ?Brick House?, 30 Red Cross Avenue, Newport.