Lidija L. Odeiko

Lidija Lucija Odeiko died peacefully on June 18, 2020 in Indianapolis, IN at the age of 90. Lidija is survived by her sister Vija Liepa (Leons) of Avon, IN, her nephew Mark Liepa (Inara) of Sagamore Hills, OH, her nieces Andra Liepa of Indianapolis, IN and Astra Liepa Bessler (Jerry) of Avon, IN, and her great-nephews Christopher and Andrew Bessler. Lidija was born on April 6, 1930 near Aglona, Latvia to Alberts and Helena Odeiko. Her father died in 1938. After fleeing from Latvia at the end of World War II with her mother and sister, Lidija completed high school in Germany and then attended Leuven University in Belgium. After graduating with a bachelor of science degree, she joined her mother and sister in Indianapolis where they had settled as refugee immigrants. Lidija worked as a cytotechnologist at St. Vincent Hospital for 47 years. She was proud to become a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1961. Lidija was active in the Indianapolis Latvian community as a member of the Ladies Committee, the folk dancing group and the choir. She was also active in the Latvian Catholic student organization, Dzintars, and in ALKA (American Latvian Catholic Association). She was a long-time member of St Luke Catholic Church and enjoyed singing in the choir and funeral choir there. After retiring, she attended daily mass at the St Vincent Hospital chapel. Lidija loved to travel and took many trips over the decades across the USA and internationally. She traveled back to her country of birth, Latvia, many times to visit her many relatives there. Lidija enjoyed the opera, the symphony, theater and movies. She loved to be in the sun and in the water and she was an avid reader of mystery books. Lidija was a fun-loving and devoted aunt, great aunt, and godmother many times over. She greeted everyone she met with a beaming smile and friendly hello. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, June 26, 2020 at 11:30 am at St Luke Catholic Church in Indianapolis. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Lidija’s name to Little Sisters of the Poor St. Augustine Home at 2345 W. 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260 or the Indianapolis Latvian Community Center at 1008 W 64th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260. Condolences are available at: www.leppertmortuary.com. The family would like to thank the staff at the Marquette Health Center, Reflections, and Assisted Living for their kindness and care for Lidija over the last few years of her life. Private internment will be at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Kalamazoo, Michigan.