The Deedas Family
Emilija Irma Deedas (nee Ceplis/Ceple)
Irma Deedas was born in Bauska, Latvia in 1907. During the First World War, her family spent several months fleeing from advancing armies - a journey which took them from Latvia to Moscow and across Siberia. Eventually Irma decided to make a better life for herself and immigrate to Canada. At 19 years old, she boarded the S.S. Arabic and sailed from London, England to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her first marriage was to a cousin named Andrejs Terin, who died in 1929, leaving Irma a widow at the young age of 22. Her second marriage was to the love of her life, Matausas (Matt) Deedas, with whom she spent a lifetime of happiness in Red Lake. In total, Irma lived in Red Lake for 42 years, from 1931 to 1973.
Irma Deedas was born in Bauska, Latvia in 1907. During the First World War, her family spent several months fleeing from advancing armies - a journey which took them from Latvia to Moscow and across Siberia. Eventually Irma decided to make a better life for herself and immigrate to Canada. At 19 years old, she boarded the S.S. Arabic and sailed from London, England to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her first marriage was to a cousin named Andrejs Terin, who died in 1929, leaving Irma a widow at the young age of 22. Her second marriage was to the love of her life, Matausas (Matt) Deedas, with whom she spent a lifetime of happiness in Red Lake. In total, Irma lived in Red Lake for 42 years, from 1931 to 1973.
Matausas (Matt/Mike) Deedas (Dydas)
Matt Deedas, as he was known in Canada, was born in the city of Ukmerge, county of Vilnius, Lithuania on November 19, 1896. As military service was compulsory at the time, Matt served in the Lithuanian army during the First World War. Leaving behind a wife and daughter, he immigrated to Canada at age 29, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on March 22, 1926. He thought he would be able to make a good living in Canada and would eventually send for his family. However, Matt's wife had a child with another man in his absence, and after hearing of this, he refused to have any further contact with her. Matt came to Red Lake in 1929 to try his luck in the gold mining district, and hereafter remained in the area working for local mines until his retirement in 1967.
Matt Deedas, as he was known in Canada, was born in the city of Ukmerge, county of Vilnius, Lithuania on November 19, 1896. As military service was compulsory at the time, Matt served in the Lithuanian army during the First World War. Leaving behind a wife and daughter, he immigrated to Canada at age 29, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on March 22, 1926. He thought he would be able to make a good living in Canada and would eventually send for his family. However, Matt's wife had a child with another man in his absence, and after hearing of this, he refused to have any further contact with her. Matt came to Red Lake in 1929 to try his luck in the gold mining district, and hereafter remained in the area working for local mines until his retirement in 1967.