Dr. Antanina Žmuidzinas.
Metines 3, 2022.VI.21
Dear Friends,
As of Tuesday, Jun 21, 2022, it is three years since the passing of our dear Antanina "Fun-tanina." Ten days earlier, on Jun 11, 2022, her 59th birthday, some of us gathered at ICC's cemetery to say “Happy Birthday, Nina!” and “We are thinking of you!” and “We love you!” and to dedicate and bless her tombstone monument (antkapio paminklas). We've started building a photo album of that event -- please visit.
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For the summer solstice, I watched our Antanina video 1 (6 minutes) and Antanina video 2 (8 minutes) and “How Can I Keep from Singing?” music video. Maybe other people were doing so at the same time.
Also, if you can be a blood donor (here's an alternate link) in Antanina's memory, it would really help people who are currently having health challenges, and her beloved Camp Neringa can always use support.
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Love,
Mike
PS: the short address to get back to this website is http://tinyurl.com/antanina2019
Dr. Antanina Žmuidzinas.
Metines 2, 2021.VI.21
Dear Friends,
On Monday, Jun 21, 2021, it was two years since the passing of our dear Antanina Žmuidzinas, and friends attended an informal on-line video get-together to remember her that evening.
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There was a 20 minute program consisting of Antanina video 1 (6 minutes) and Antanina video 2 (8 minutes) and "How Can I Keep from Singing?" music video, followed by sharing of memories, pictures, and conversation.
If you can be a blood donor in Antanina's memory, it would really help people who are currently having health challenges, and her beloved Camp Neringa can always use help.
​
Love,
Mike
ps: the short address to get back to this website is http://tinyurl.com/antanina2019
Dr. Antanina Žmuidzinas.
Metines, 2020.VI.21
Dear Friends,
In summer 2020 it had been a year since Antanina passed away on June 21, 2019. As you may know, Lithuanians traditionally have a special gathering for this first anniversary, called “Metines.”
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On Sunday, June 21, 2020, at 8:00 am, there was a traditional Metines mass to honor Antanina's memory at the Immaculate Conception Convent in Putnam, Connecticut. Some of us lit candles at home during that time.
Later in the same day we held a Metines commemoration, celebrating the joyful, vibrant life of Antanina Žmuidzinas. This gathering had a non-traditional aspect, since it had to be held online. We started at 1:00 pm talking with one another in small groups. Formal presentations start at 1:15 pm with prayers,
music: How Can I Keep from Singing?,
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poems, stories, and home video slideshows:
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Antanina video 1 (6 minutes)
and
Antanina video 2. (8 minutes)
People were invited to bring a flower or other meaningful reminder of Antanina to share on screen. As we lingered together after the program, several of us mentioned “The Rochester Lithuanians” film which has wonderful interviews with Antanina as she was sharing her family photos and memories.
We had fourteen speakers in the formal part of the commemoration, speaking, sharing poems, memories, jokes, and music.
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Love,
Mike, Simas, Dana, Stefa, Arūnas
ps: the short address to get back to this website is http://tinyurl.com/antanina2019
Dr. Antanina Žmuidzinas
Funeral, 2019.VI.28
Service Information
Antanina passed away at age 56 on June 21, 2019. Her funeral and internment were held Friday, June 28, 2019, at
Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Convent
600 Liberty Highway, Putnam, Connecticut 06260.
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Antanina's remains are now at rest near those of her parents and grandparents.
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A New York City memorial was held on
Sunday, Oct 20th, 2019 at the Church of St. Ann & the Holy Trinity, 157 Montague Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
and was followed by a reception at Saint Ann’s School, 129 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn NY 11201.
There was a procession with waving ribbons, stories, photos, poetry, and the songs Ave Maria and How Can I Keep from Singing? Years ago, Antanina had requested this music for her farewell but we never thought we would need it so soon.
Antanina hiking while visiting Brazil for a friend's wedding, 2005
Would you like to share photos?
If you have photos you'd like to share, we have an online album which was shown at the reception. We invite you to continue uploading favorites as long as nobody would mind others viewing. (They might be public.) Link is here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/DeEvtPVwM8iTNieNA
(If you have trouble with the album, you may instead email pictures to Mike.)
Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations were directed to Neringa100, a capital campaign to ensure the continuity of Antanina's beloved Camp Neringa for the next 50 years.
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Donations may still be made online to:
or checks made out to “Camp Neringa Inc.” may be mailed to:
Neringa100, 34 State Street, Guilford, CT 06437​
Kindly note on any donation that it is in memory of Antanina Žmuidzinas.
Of Interest
Antanina's Health Journey
Antanina met a year of medical challenges with her usual determination, humor, optimism, kindness, and grace. She used a site called Caring Bridge to share updates.
A link to that site is here (sign in required): Caring Bridge - Antanina Zmuidzinas
Antanina - 'Dainos Aidas'
Antanina performed poetry in the USA and Lithuania, and from 2014-2019 was the host and writer for a Lithuanian radio show called “Dainos Aidas.” She created one of her last shows in March 2019 and its theme was time, with thoughts, poetry, and music.
A link to the episode is here: Dainos Aidas - Antanina
Obituary
A link to her obituary is here: Obituary - Antanina Zmuidzinas
Funeral Service and Memorial Program
Email Mike if you would like a digital copy of the New York City October 2019 memorial program. A link to the June 2019 funeral service program in Putnam, Connecticut is here: Antanina Zmuidzinas - Funeral Service Program - Putnam, CT