ABOLINS, Mara
Kalamazoo

Mara Abolins came into the world on February 21, 1942, born in Riga, Latvia, the daughter of Aina and Augusts Abolins. A few weeks before her 80th birthday, she was called onto the Lord and joined her parents, on February 14, 2022. Mara passed away at her home in Kalamazoo.

At the time of the occupation of Latvia by the Russian Army, to save their lives, Mara’s family fled to Germany, where they stayed in a displaced persons camp for six years, and where Mara’s sister, Liga, was born.

The family was sponsored by a tobacco farmer in Virginia, but on arrival to the U.S. they learned that their sponsor was actually in Kalamazoo, Michigan. There, Mara’s mother, Aina, attended a business school during the day and worked at night. Mara’s father was an engineer.

From their parents, both Mara and Liga learned the virtue of work and the importance of education. Mara earned a bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College, a master’s degree from Indiana University, and started work as a teacher. She did frequent language teaching abroad for the State Department. Mara taught English, German and General Studies at Maryville College, now Maryville University. She was a popular and highly respected teacher. Mara also taught in Bonn and Cologne in Germany and in a German high school, as well as various institutions in South America. She was an innovative experiential educator who utilized creative immersive practices with her students. Students sought her out after hours and she was always glad to accommodate them.

Having traveled extensively and lived in other countries, Mara presented her lectures in interesting ways. Her former students even returned to thank her many years later. Not infrequently, her students diverted Mara from the lesson to her many stories. When the student numbers shrank at the University of Kentucky, Mara and her sister, Liga, revitalized the English Department as a Second Language program, resulting in a record number of foreign students.

Mara had a generous heart, and always searched for ways to delight others. For holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, she invited ladies who were single to spend time and share a meal together to give them a feeling of family. Likewise, Mara provided for her relatives in Latvia by sending them countless packages of things they could not afford and thus made their lives easier.

Mara was generous with her time, belongings and love. According to Liga, there was nobody who did not wish Mara well. Both sisters were each other’s best friend and support. When Liga needed help after an operation, Mara was ready to drive, even at night, to be at Liga’s side. Mara also never refused to help her friends.

Mara loved dogs, most of her canine companions were Beagles, who accompanied her to her homes in St. Louis and Kentucky.

Mara is mourned by her sister, Liga, and many friends in the U.S. and abroad.

A graveside committal service will be held on Friday, February 25, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, followed by at visitation at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home beginning at 11:00 AM and a memorial service at 12:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be given to the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran United Church of Kalamazoo or to the Kalamazoo Humane Society.