The Danenberg Family

Aina Modrīte Sirlaka 1920–2003

Peter's first cousin twice removed.

Also recorded as Aina Jurciņa; Aina (Modrīte) Sirlaks.

Aina Modrīte Sirlaka was born on 1 Dec 1920 in Vīstuči farm, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia2,3,4, the daughter of Dāvis Sirlaks and Alma Leontīne Āboltiņa3,14,15. She married Alberts Jurciņš in 1942 in Gulbene, Vidzeme, Latvia16. She died on 18 Mar 20033 and was buried at Gulbene Old Cemetery, Gulbene, Vidzeme, Latvia3,11.

Family

Parents
Dāvis Sirlaks 1886–1952 and Alma Leontīne Āboltiņa 1887–1959 documented
Husband
Alberts Jurciņš 1916–1953 · married in 1942 in Gulbene, Vidzeme, Latvia
Children

Life events

EventDatePlace and details
Notebet 1920 and 18 Mar 2003Gulbene Old Cemetery, Gulbene, Vidzeme, Latvia
Identity of the memoirist. Timenote (nekropole.info) memorial pages give Aina Jurciņa, maiden name Sirlaka, born 1920, died 18 March 2003, buried in the Gulbene Old Cemetery. They name her father Dāvis Sirlaks (1886–1952) and mother Alma (1887–1959); her husband Alberts Jurciņš (b. 14 Dec 1916, d.…3
Born1 Dec 1920Vīstuči farm, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia2,3,4
Education1940Priekuļi, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia
Dievbērns school (head Kārlis Dievabērns), Rauna parish school, then Priekuļi Agricultural Secondary School, graduated 1940 (exile alumni album "Priekulieši" mentions her, p. 32). Confirmation instruction with Pastor Arvīds Treicis, Rauna, 1940 (p. 31).7
Note1940Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia
Confirmation instruction and confirmation at Rauna church (p. 11: "Manā iesvētīšanas dienā Raunas baznīcā"), pastor Arvīds Treicis.12
Lived1944Gulbene, Vidzeme, Latvia5
Workbet 1945 and 1980Kolkhoz worker (she "fled from the kolkhoz" to the Jaunpiebalga seed-control laboratory, p. 43); clerk at the Dauksti village soviet, Gulbene district; research assistant (probably Priekuļi Selection Station); amateur theatre director. Widowed 1953.8
Lived22 Oct 1998Priekuļi, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia6
Died18 Mar 20019,10
Died18 Mar 2003Preferred version: Timenote gives a full date and her grave at Gulbene Old Cemetery. 2001 (same day, 18 March) comes from a pen addition in the family copy of her memoir and from Voronins's tree, which may share one source. Kept open: the gravestone decides.3
BuriedGulbene Old Cemetery, Gulbene, Vidzeme, Latvia3,11
NoteLEAD (S): Aina’s death year: 2001 (memoir pen note, Voroņins tree) vs 2003 (Timenote). Reopen lead aina-death-year.13

Open questions

Sources

  1. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I58 (person-6000058), GEDCOM lines 2461–2505.
    NAME Aina (Modrīte) /Sirlaks/
  2. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, pp. 22, 35, section "LEJAS VĪSTUČOS SAVU DZIMTAS KOKU IESTĀDA MĀRČA MAZDĒLS DAVIDS".
    Aina Sirlaka 1920. 1.XII … Aina Sirlaka, dz. 1920. 1. decembrī
    Translation: Aina Sirlaka, 1 XII 1920 … Aina Sirlaka, b. 1 December 1920

    The author. Born at Vīstuči in the one room of the old house (p. 25). Godmother: her grandmother Dārta Āboltiņa/Āboliņa (p. 26). Had rickets as an infant.

  3. Aina Jurciņa, timenote person id 11610902.
    Dzimšanas datums: 00.00.1920 Miršanas datums: 18.03.2003 … Pirmslaulību (cits) uzvārds: Sirlaka … Kapsēta: Gulbene, Vecie kapi … Dāvis Sirlaks — Tēvs — 1886–1952; Alma Sirlaka — Māte — 1887–1959; Valdis Jurciņš — Dēls — 04.03.1947–04.09.2019; Alberts Jurciņš — Vīrs — 14.12.1916–1953
    Translation: Born 1920, died 18 Mar 2003; maiden name Sirlaka; cemetery Gulbene Old Cemetery; father Dāvis Sirlaks (1886–1952), mother Alma Sirlaka (1887–1959), son Valdis Jurciņš (1947–2019), husband Alberts Jurciņš (1916–1953)

    Identity of the memoirist. Timenote (nekropole.info) memorial pages give Aina Jurciņa, maiden name Sirlaka, born 1920, died 18 March 2003, buried in the Gulbene Old Cemetery. They name her father Dāvis Sirlaks (1886–1952) and mother Alma (1887–1959); her husband Alberts Jurciņš (b. 14 Dec 1916, d. 1953); her son Valdis Jurciņš (4 Mar 1947 – 4 Sep 2019, also Gulbene); her sisters Velta Grīslis (1918–2015) and Ilga Stangaine (1922–2011); and her brothers Valdis Sirlaks (1924–1995) and Jānis (1916–1918). So Aina is Elvīra's first cousin through Dāvis of Vīstuči, exactly as Raimonds said ('Elvīras māsīca'). Her married name JURCIŅA is the name to search in catalogues; the memoir is probably an unpublished family typescript held by her descendants (Jurciņš family, Gulbene) or by Raimonds.

  4. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I58 (person-6000058), GEDCOM lines 2461–2505.
    BIRT · 1 DEC 1920 · Vīstuči, Jaunrauna
  5. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 37, section "KO ZINU PAR KARA LAIKU VĪSTUČOS".
    Mēs, Gulbenes "Zvirgzdiņu" ļaudis, vāciešu no mājas izdzīti, ar diviem zirgu vezumiem bēgļu straumē nokļuvām līdz Mazstraupei.
    Translation: We, the people of "Zvirgzdiņi" in Gulbene, driven from home by the Germans, reached Mazstraupe with two horse-loads in the stream of refugees.

    Flight of 1944 with the Jurciņš household; "Viss iet bojā" (everything was lost, p. 32). They stayed in Latvia. In the last war winter (1944–45) she worked at the Priekuļi school with teacher Jānis Ambainis (p. 36).

  6. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 53, section "NOBEIGUMS".
    Priekuļos, 1998.gada 22.oktobrī
    Translation: Priekuļi, 22 October 1998

    Lived in Priekuļi when she finished the memoir (also p. 27 "Te, Priekuļos"). The frame conversation with Ilga is dated 5 June 1998 (p. 2).

  7. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, pp. 29, 30, section "VĪSTUČU BĒRNI IET SKOLĀ".
    Visi četri mēs esam gājuši tā sauktā Dievbērnskolā. … Aina iestājās Priekuļu Lauksaimniecības vidusskolā, kuru sekmīgi absolvēja 1940.gadā.
    Translation: All four of us went to the so-called Dievbērns school. … Aina entered the Priekuļi Agricultural Secondary School and graduated successfully in 1940.

    Dievbērns school (head Kārlis Dievabērns), Rauna parish school, then Priekuļi Agricultural Secondary School, graduated 1940 (exile alumni album "Priekulieši" mentions her, p. 32). Confirmation instruction with Pastor Arvīds Treicis, Rauna, 1940 (p. 31).

  8. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, pp. 32, 24, 43, section "DĀVJA UN ALMAS TREŠĀ BĒRNA AINAS DZĪVES GAITA".
    Kolhozā. Zinātnē. strādnieks. Zinātnieka labā roka. Režisors. … Strādāju Daukstu ciema … padomē. … Kad es aizbēgu no kolhoza
    Translation: In the kolkhoz. In science: a worker, a scientist's right hand. A [theatre] director. … I worked at the Dauksti village soviet. … When I …

    Kolkhoz worker (she "fled from the kolkhoz" to the Jaunpiebalga seed-control laboratory, p. 43); clerk at the Dauksti village soviet, Gulbene district; research assistant (probably Priekuļi Selection Station); amateur theatre director. Widowed 1953.

  9. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 22, section "LEJAS VĪSTUČOS SAVU DZIMTAS KOKU IESTĀDA MĀRČA MAZDĒLS DAVIDS".
    Aina Sirlaka 1920. 1.XII [handwritten: -2001. 18.III]
    Translation: Aina Sirlaka, 1 XII 1920 [pen: – 18 III 2001]

    Death date added in pen to the family copy: 18 Mar 2001. Timenote has 18 Mar 2003 (same day and month); the Voroņins tree has 2001. Lead aina-death-year should be reopened.

  10. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I58 (person-6000058), GEDCOM lines 2461–2505.
    DEAT · 18 MAR 2001 · AGE 80
  11. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I58 (person-6000058), GEDCOM lines 2461–2505.
    BURI · Gulbenes kapos
  12. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 31, section "MĀCĪTĀJS ARVĪDS TREICIS".
    Gāju pie viņa mācībā 1940.gadā 2 nedēļas.
    Translation: I went to him [Pastor Treicis] for instruction in 1940, for 2 weeks.

    Confirmation instruction and confirmation at Rauna church (p. 11: "Manā iesvētīšanas dienā Raunas baznīcā"), pastor Arvīds Treicis.

  13. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 22, section "LEJAS VĪSTUČOS SAVU DZIMTAS KOKU IESTĀDA MĀRČA MAZDĒLS DAVIDS".
    [handwritten: -2001. 18.III]
    Translation: [pen:] – 18.III.2001

    LEAD (S): Aina’s death year: 2001 (memoir pen note, Voroņins tree) vs 2003 (Timenote). Reopen lead aina-death-year.

  14. DNA evidence (private)
  15. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, pp. 9, 21, 26, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS PIEKTO BĒRNU DĀVIDU".
    Viņiem ir pieci bērni: Jānis, Velta, Aina, Valdis, Ilga. … Mūsu vecākā māsa- 1918.gada septembrī. Mēs, pārējie trīs bērni, ik pēc 2 gadiem. … Mēs …
    Translation: They have five children: Jānis, Velta, Aina, Valdis, Ilga. … Our eldest sister, in September 1918. We, the other three children, every 2 years. … …

    Children: Jānis (1916–1918), Velta (1918), Aina (1920), Ilga (1922), Valdis (1924). p. 9 lists Valdis before Ilga, but the dated registers (pp. 22, 34) put Ilga first.

  16. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, pp. 30, 32, 42, section "NĀKAMĀS VĪSTUČBĒRNU SKOLAS".
    1942.gadā ieprecējās skolas prakses saimniecībā Gulbenes rajona “Zvirgzdiņos”. … Un Ainu reizē bildina divi godavīri: Vladimirs Kuģenieks, Alberts Jurciņš. … Viņi izvada Ainu tautās ar …
    Translation: In 1942 she married into the school's practice farm, "Zvirgzdiņi" in the Gulbene district. … And two honourable men courted Aina at once: Vladimirs Kuģenieks …

    Married Alberts Jurciņš in 1942 and moved to his family's model farm "Zvirgzdiņi" ("one of Latvia's 105 most exemplary farms"), Jaungulbene (p. 42: "Jaungulbenes “Zvirgzdiņos”"). Agrees with the banns at St Anne's, Jelgava (Zemgale, 21 Apr 1942; data/families/F1006.yaml). The wedding itself: groom's party "won" the money contest (p. 40).

See in the family tree