Paija Avenins

Paija Avenins, 80, was born on December 16, 1944 in a bomb shelter in Plan, Germany. Her family was escaping from Latvia due to the Communist invasion.
In Germany, they lived in a displaced person's camp until they immigrated to the United States in 1950. They moved to a farm in upstate New York. Work on the farm was hard but she loved spending time with the animals, picking berries and helping her father. In 1960, they relocated to Indianapolis.
Paija graduated from Shortridge High School in 1962. Paija graduated from Indiana University with a BSN in nursing and then a master's in nursing from Indiana University. For most of her career, Paija was a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist at Larue Carter Hospital in Indianapolis.
Paija loved to watch old movies and musicals. Paija had crushes on the actor, Tyrone Power, and singer, Tom Jones. She loved snow. Most of all, she loved her grandsons.
Paija is predeceased by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Pavils Avenins and her sisters, Aija and Maija. She is also predeceased by her beloved best friend, Ina Kalnajs.
Paija is survived by her daughter, Julija (Julie), Julija's husband, Paul, and her beloved grandsons, Zachary and Eric, and future granddaughter-in-law, Emma. Paija also is survived by her nephew, Paul, and her nieces, Daina and Ilze.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 from 9:30 AM until the time of service at 11:30 AM at G. H. Herrmann Funeral Home and Cremation Center at The Gardens of Olive Branch, 1605 S. State Road 135, Greenwood, IN.
Paija will be laid to rest in Concordia Cemetery.