AIJA R. GREGORY- NORFOLK, VA

AIJA, 89, DIED PEACEFULLY ON JAN. 6, 2017 IN HER HOME IN NORFOLK FROM A PROLONGED BATTLE WITH CANCER. BORN IN LATVIA AND AFTER AN IDEALIC CHILDHOOD, SHE AND HER SISTER RIA WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILY BEHIND AND IMMIGRATE TO GERMANY WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDS WHO LIVED THERE. AFTER THE WAR SHE REMAINED AND WAS EMPLOYED AS A DANCE INSTRUCTOR AT THE USO WHERE SHE MET HER FUTURE HUSBAND, JIM GREGORY, WHO WAS WEARING COMBAT BOOTS TO DANCE. AFTER MANY DANCE LESSONS AND SHARING GOOD TIMES HE WAS DEPLOYED BACK TO THE UNITED STATES WHERE SHE WAS ABLE TO SOON FOLLOW. THEY REUNITED, MARRIED AND LIVED HAPPILY TOGETHER FOR 59 YEARS.

SHE IS SURVIVED BY HER THREE CHILDREN: MARA GROSS, BYRON GREGORY AND JOYCE, DANA TOM AND HUSBAND JOHN; SISTERS RIA, MARA, AND VIJA AND MANY GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN.
BEING A MILITARY WIFE SHE TRAVELED FROM ALASKA TO DELAWARE TO NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. SHE AND THE FAMILY FINALLY SETTLED IN NORFOLK WHERE SHE ENJOYED PLAYING GOLF WITH HER HUSBAND, SON, AND DAUGHTER AS WELL AS HER MANY FRIENDS. SHE WAS AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS GRANDMA PANCAKE FOR THE HUNDREDS OF PANCAKES SHE MADE OVER THE YEARS! SHE WAS ALSO FAMOUS FOR KNITTING BLANKETS FOR ALL OF HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SHE LOVED HER YARD, SQUIRRELS AND BIRDS AND MOST OF ALL HER GRANDKIDS.

SHE WAS THE MOST BELOVED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER (GG) AND GREATGRANDMOTHER AND WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
A CELEBRATION OF HER LIFE WILL BE HELD FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT A LATER DATE.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF THE KINGS DAUGHTERS.

CREMATION SOCIETY OF VIRGINIA IS ASSISTING THE FAMILY.