Obituary Antons Muncs

Antons Munčs – 1922-2013

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A Beloved Leader of Montreal Latvian Community will be Missed

Sadly, on July 23, 2013, Mr. Antons Munčs passed away.  He was a beloved member of the Latvian Catholic community of Montreal and will be sorely missed by all.  A mass, led by Father Réal Lévesque, was held for Mr. Munčs at the Notre Dame de Sacré-Cœur Chapel in Montreal on Tuesday, July 30, 2013.  In attendance were his three sons and their families, and many of his friends.  A lovely reception to celebrate Mr. Munčs’ life followed at the Hotel Nelligan on rue St. Paul where everyone gathered after the service.  Sandwiches, pīrāgis, veggies, desserts and refreshments were enjoyed while everyone reminisced about Mr. Munčs.

Friends fondly remember Mr. Munčs. He always greeted each person with his warm smile and kind words of friendship and made everyone feel welcome.  Mr. Munčs encouraged fellow Latvians to attend monthly Catholic church services at the Notre Dame Basilica where sermons and masses are led by Father Réal Lévesque, and scriptures are read and songs sung in Latvian by his son, Norbert Munčs.  Mr. Munčs truly enjoyed the fellowship of his friends at these services and afterwards in a private room where coffee, sandwiches, piragis and desserts on a table prepared by the Latvian ladies of the church.  Father Lévesque always joins in after mass and everyone chats, laughs and exchanges stories.  This has been a tradition that Mr. Munčs and other church leaders began many years ago in order that these long-time friends could attend a Latvian mass and remain in touch with each other.  Mr. Munčs has been a leading member of the Montreal Latvian Catholic community and he kept in contact with the Bishop from Riga in Latvia.  He ensured that news was communicated back and forth between Montreal and Riga.  He was a proud member of the Catholic church and a man who firmly believed in God and prayer.

God bless Mr. Munčs and his family, and may they find comfort in the memories of the happy times they spent together and the legacy that he leaves behind.

Mass and Funeral Services for Mr. Munčs were held on July 30, 2013 at Mass was held at the Chapelle Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal (at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Montreal) for Mr. Antons Munčs, long standing member of the Montreal Latvian community.  Members of Montreal’s Catholic Latvian community attended to celebrate his life and funeral services performed by Father Réal Lévesque.  A reception was held to honour Mr. Munčs at the Nelligan Hotel on rue St. Paul.  He contributed tremendously to the Latvian Catholic church activities over the years.

View photos:  Celebration of the life of Mr. Antons Munčs – Mass and Reception  Download or print any photos from the photo gallery.

 


A Tribute to a Beloved Father – Mr. Antons Munčs, 1922-2013

My Father, Antons Munčs was born on July 27, 1922, near Daugavpils, Latgale, in Latvia, in the town now known as Ambelis.

Itys diva dutais styureits myusu morys zemete jo sirdej tik tyvs un meils.

The Munčs family was a big one – five daughters and five sons.  Anton’s oldest brother, his wife and two small daughters were deported to Siberia.  Presently, he is survived by his two youngest sisters.

After finishing grade school in Ambelis, Antons was enrolled at the Aglona Middle School.  There he studied and learned about the duties of a Sacristan, was taught public speaking and theatre.  He continued his collegial studies in Daugavpils, where he also became a member of the schools’ board.  Anton’s dream of studying medicine was never realized due to the German occupation in Latvia.  Having been enlisted in the armed forces, Antons was wounded on the front lines during the Russian occupation. At the war’s end, with the help of friendly families, Antons escaped to Germany where he worked in the kitchen at an airfield of the British Air Force.  Then, he was moved to the displaced persons camp in Braunshveig.

In June 1946, he married Valeska Pihrags.

The displaced persons were given the choice to emigrate to England or Australia.  He chose England as it was closer to his homeland.  In England, he worked as a servant in a student camp and then in a wood factory.  At this time, he resumed his studies in nursing and worked in a hospital.  Unfortunately, due to the unfortunate factors, he had to return to factory work.

In 1951, with his wife and first son, Konrads, he arrived in Canada and set himself up in Montreal.  In 1952, his second son, Andris, was born and in 1954, his third son Norberts.  He worked as a butler for the Stewart family and then for over 25 years at Modern Building Cleaning Company where he also made some very close friends.

My Father often spoke about the fact that despite many hardships, and at times a difficult life, with God’s help he always made it through and succeeded in providing for his family.  When faced with difficult people or situations, God always showed him another path.   He took his strength from his teachers, father, mother, brothers, sisters, from his father’s home and all of Latgale.

God also helped him to raise his sons as good people.

Antons and Valeska were married for almost 65 years.

Anton was a Past President of the Latvian Catholic Parish in Montreal.

He was extremely proud of his seven grandchildren and prayed for their success.

My Father passed away four days before his 91st birthday.  We celebrated it this past Saturday at his cottage in Labelle.

My Father always appreciated the time he could spend in the outdoors and nature, especially when this time was spent with his loved ones.  His family and friends will surely find comfort by continuing the activities which he taught us to value and enjoy.

Thank You.

Norberts Munčs

Notre Dame de Sacré-Cœur Chapel

July 30, 2013


Article by Mr. Mārtiņš Štauvers

23. jūlijā, četras dienas pirms savas 91. dzimšanas dienas sasniegšanas Montreala miris Antons Munčs. Viņš piedzimis 1922. gada 27. jūlijā Ambelē, Daugavpils apkaimē. Piecu meitu un piecu dēlu lielģimenē. Pēc pamatskolas beigšanas Ambelē, iestājies Aglonas vidusskolā, kur mācījies ķesteŗa amatu, publisko runāšanu un darbojies teātrī. Studijas turpina Daugavpilī. Sapnis iegūt zināšanas medicīnā neīstenojas, jo jādodas kaŗa gaitās, kuŗās cieš ievainojumus. Kaŗa beigās nonāk bēgļu nometnē angļu zonā Vācijā, kur 1946. gadā salaulajās ar Valesku Pīrāgu. Laulībā aizvadīti 65 gadi, kad pirms pāris gadiem dzīves biedre dodas mūžībā. Munči izvēlas emigrēt uz Angliju  1951. gadā kopā ar dēlu Konradu ieceļo Kanadā. Apmetas uz dzīvi Montreala, kur piedzimst vēl 2 dēli – Andris un Norberts. Gadu tecējuma ieguvis 7 mazbērnus. Strādā kā namu parvaldnieks un 25 gadus kadā celtņu apkopšanas firmā. Latviešu katoļticīgo saimē ir Montrealas Katoļu draudzes loceklis un daudzus gadus tās priekšnieks.

Antonu Munču pēdējā gaitā 30. jūlijā no Montrealas katoļu Notre Dame katedrāles Jēzus Svētās Sirds kapelas izvadīja draudzes priesteris Real Levesque. Tēva mūžu daudzināja dēls Norberts, izvadīšanas dziesmas iejūtīgi un skaisti dziedāja Beatrice Baillargeon, bet ērģeles spēlēja katedrāles ērģelnieks Pierre Grandnaisson. Pavadītāju skaits sasniedza 50. Daļa no tiem pulcējās bēru mielastā kājām sasniedzamā Nelligan viesnīcā. Nelaiķa mirstīgā atliekas apglabāja latviešu katoļu nodalījumā Mount Royal kapsētā.

Par aizgājēju skumst viņa 2 jaunākās māsas, ģimene, Montrealas latviešu katoļu draudze, sabiedrība, draugi un paziņas. Vieglas smiltis tālā pasaules stūrī rosmīgajam Latgales dēlam, kuŗam Dievs bija vēlējis brīnumainu dzīvi.                                         M. Štauvers

Šoreiz viena lapa. Ar sveicienu, Mārtiņš