Ingrida Rutins

Ingrida Rutins

1928-2013 BENNINGTON, VT Ingrida Rutins died peacefully on December 5, 2013 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center after a prolonged period of illness. Ingrida was born in Riga, Latvia on November 26, 1928 to Anna and Alfreds Rutins. Ingrida was the eldest of three with two younger brothers. In 1944 the family was forced to flee Latvia and spent the next few years in Esslingen, Germany in a Displaced Persons camp. In March 1949, Ingrida emigrated to America arriving ahead of the family who arrived later in 1950 when they moved to NJ. Ingrida received a scholarship to attend the Grace-New Haven School of Nursing in Connecticut graduating in 1952. While working at Memorial Hospital (now Sloan-Kettering) in NYC (1954-1958), Ingrida married, had two daughters, Ilze and Aina, and was divorced. Ingrida moved to NJ where she worked full-time as a private duty nurse, raised her daughters and attended Fairleigh Dickinson University receiving a BSc, Nursing in 1962. Ingrida worked the night shift at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ for many years. There was also a brief move to Poughkeepsie, NY (1972-1975) during which time Ingrida worked for the NY State Correctional Department in Fishkill, NY which she often described as "eye-opening". Returning to Overlook in 1975, Ingrida's career advanced with increasingly senior positions such as Assistant Director of Nursing, with her last appointment being the senior Administrator of the 11-7 shift across all hospital departments. In 1966, Ingrida was confronted with her greatest challenge. At the age of 8, Ingrida's youngest daughter, Aina, was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Ahead were years of hospitalization and complications. Ingrida's support for ground-breaking lupus treatments allowed Aina to be with the family for 18 more years until 1985. Sustaining Ingrida and giving her great pleasure were her keen love of opera, gardening, the ocean and beaches of Cape Cod, and pride in her family. In 2005 Ingrida moved to Fillmore Pond in Bennington, VT to be closer to her brother, Karlis. Though she had great affection for her adopted country, Ingrida found great purpose in supporting Latvia's fight for independence and rejoiced when this historic event came to be in 1990. She was able to visit Latvia several times to embrace her birthplace and the family that had remained behind. Ingrida is survived by her daughter, Ilze in Australia with her family; her brother Karlis and his family in Vermont; as well as extended family members in America, Europe and Latvia. At Ingrida's request, after a private family service held on 7 December, her remains will be laid to rest in the Latvian Cemetery in Elka Park, NY. In Ingrida's memory, a contribution to the "Lupus Foundation of America" can be made in care of the Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street Bennington, VT (www.sheafuneralhomes.com).