Memories and Reflections of Lydia Off (September 20, 1923 – April 17, 2013)
By her friend and pastor, The Rev. Luther C. Brunette


My family has known Lydia as a personal friend for twenty years. As her pastor and friend, I offer these thoughts also to be included in her funeral message on Sunday afternoon at Carmel Lutheran Church on April 21, 2013 at 1:30 pm

Last Tuesday afternoon, my wife, Kris, and my daughter Becca were at Lydia's along with others. Lydia enjoyed white wine, so she asked for a glass of wine. Becca said to her, "Lydia, Don't you think you should be drinking water, instead?" In her own confident (or should I say stubborn) way, she said, "No, just give me that glass of wine." Along with some conversation, she finished her glass of wine.

It was at that time that Lydia begin speaking unintelligible words. Since she knows three languages, they weren't sure what she was saying. Maybe she is speaking auf Deutsch. So Becca says, "Wie gehts, Lydia?" (Which means, How are you?) As clear as a bell, she responded, "Sehr gut!" Which means, "Very good."

And those words "Sehr Gut" were the last words that Lydia spoke as she experienced a massive stroke and was unable to speak at all during the final hours of her life here on this earth.

"Very good!" This is the way that Lydia liked to reflect upon God's grace to her through her life echoing the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 23:6, "Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

The very goodness of God began for Lydia when she was baptized as an infant at her Lutheran Church in Latvia on October 1, 1923 when she was only 12 days old. Born to loving Christian parents, Heinrihs Leonards Ferdinands Goba and his wife, Marija, Lydia was raised in a loving, faith-filled environment. She was taught to pray and read God's Word. Part of her everyday schooling included catechetical instruction and Bible teaching. When she was 16 years old, Lydia stood before her congregation and family and friends and confessed her Christian faith in the rite of Confirmation on April 1, 1940.

As you may know, those were difficult days in the Baltic Region of Europe. A World War had already ensued. The relatively small nation of Latvia came under the influence of the then super powers of the region and was battered by whoever was in power.

Lydia's father was involved in commerce and trade, often employed by the Latvian government. Heinrihs, who spoke 7 languages according to Lydia, regularly brought Lydia on his business trips around the world, and created in her a thirst for learning and culture and travel. Lydia was very close to her father and often spoke of him as the perfect Christian gentleman. Her father's brother was a Lutheran Pastor in Latvia.

Growing up in somewhat of an aristocratic home, Lydia was raised in large part by her Nanny and did not get to know her mother well. Because servants were employed in their home, Lydia did not learn domestic skills. She did however, learn how to dance. Her ballet skills were noted early on, and she was celebrated as one of the top young ballet students and performers in all of Latvia. One of her highlighted memories includes being the Prima Ballerina in Swan Lake in Riga, the capital of Latvia. God's goodness was clearly evident for Lydia Ina Irena Goba.

WWII changed everything in Lydia's life. While her childhood was pristine and provided her with so many romanticized memories through the years, the reality of what was to come could have been frightening to any human being. In the late 1930's Latvia became dominated by the Russians. Lydia's father, Heinrich, was of German decent. His mother (Lydia's grandmother) was German from the Berlin area. Lydia was taught to speak both Latvian and German at a young age. As you might expect, Heinrihs, her father, did not find favor with the Russians.

According to Lydia, as it became evident that the Germans would take control of Latvia, her father was killed by the Russians, we think, by some kind of poisoning. This rocked Lydia's world. And yet, the Lord remained her fortress and strength, a very present help in trouble. Remember, God is "sehr gut!"

Lydia continued to dance in the ballet through the early 1940's. But when it became clear that the Germans were losing the war and that Latvia would again return back to the control of the Russians, she was evacuated and placed on passenger ship at the age of 20 to leave for Germany.

Her times of trial and testing were not over. Once in Germany, Lydia was conscripted to serve in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) where she served in the defense of the city of Magdeburg in northern Germany. When informed about impending allied bombing, her job was to man the smoke machines, hoping to make it more difficult for calculated allied bombings.

Lydia sometimes spoke of the night of January 16, 1945 and the Feuersturm (firestorm) that ensued there in Magdeburg, Germany. Allied incendiary bombs were dropped on the city that night. It is estimated that between 20- 40,000 civilians were killed. She was part of the crew who went and picked up the injured and deceased. By the way, that is why she had such a difficult time eating red meat thereafter. And yet, God is "sehr gut!"

Toward the very end of the war, she found herself once trying to escape from the Russians in Eastern Germany. It must have been a harrowing time as Russian soldiers exacted retribution in response to earlier German atrocities. It is estimated that up to two million German women were raped during this tragic event in history.

But God is good! Recalling Lydia's story – she escaped through a bathroom window and took a couple of other women with her. They ran through the woods with bullets buzzing around their heads. When they got to the Elba River, they waded in the water so that the guard dogs did not sniff them out. They spent the night in the water of the river and then escaped the next day where they were taken in by allied troops.

After the war the only place she could go was to one of the allied displaced person's camp. This was the only place to find food and shelter. There alongside of thousands of displaced Europeans, she met and married her first husband and became pregnant with her son, Olgerts. After her first husband deserted her and was unfaithful to her, she gave birth to Olgerts as a lonely single mother there in the camp. But God is "sehr gut!"

It wasn't long until she met the love of her life and soul mate, Alex Vilinskis, whom she married. In 1952 they were sponsored by an American Organization and decided to immigrate and find a new life in the USA. Ships passage took them to Ellis Island, NY and they were given $42.00. Alex was detained for a couple of weeks at Ellis Island, because he was thought to have Tuberculosis. Lydia and her small son, knowing no English whatsoever, had to survive on the streets of New York City until her husband was released.

But God is good! They heard about some other Latvians acquaintances who lived in a distant place called Westfield, Indiana. It was here that they decided to come and live. Their first home here was in one room in the upstairs of an old farm house. Lydia said that the cracks in the ceilings and walls were so big she could see daylight. Alex got a job, and Lydia began to learn English. After five years, she took the test and became a US citizen.

Alex worked hard and the Vilinskis were blessed with two more children, first a daughter whom they named Ligita and a son, Fred. While living an austere life in Westfield, the family did very well. The kids went to school. Without a car, the family walked to the Methodist church in Westfield where the children were baptized. Eventually, after Lydia learned how to drive, they traveled to Pilgrim Lutheran Church here in Carmel, where the children were confirmed.

Lydia continued her passion for ballet dancing and set up a ballet dance studio in her small home where she taught ballet lessons to over 30 students. At one time she even had a recital and filled the original Westfield high school auditorium. It took some convincing by her good sponsor friends, Doc and Thelma, to convince the administrators to let her use the building.

She told Kris Brunette this week that at that event the auditorium was full of many curious people who wondered, "Who is this lady who dances with a German accent and speaks broken English and who moved into our community?" She also provided child care during this time for many couple's children, helping to raise them with moral values and loving care.
Lydia always stuck to her convictions and was not easily influenced one way or the other by the attitudes and opinions of others. "What is right in God's eyes is right. And what is wrong in God's eyes is wrong," she often said. And she was not afraid to let you know it! Early on, her father gave her a copy of the Ten Commandments. As she would say, "This is what I live by!"

In 1963 Lydia faced more tragedy. Her beloved husband, Alex, was killed in an automobile accident at the age of 38. So there she was… with three kids, and alone. But God is "sehr gut!"

Even with her broken English and young children at home, she was determined to make it in this world. She eventually had three jobs, sometimes hauling the two younger children with her with makeshift beds in the back of her car all over Indiana selling knitting machines door to door. Lydia's faith in God's grace along with her hard work and stubborn determination enabled her to make the house payments, drive a car, and provide for her family.

In 1969, Lydia married Jim Off, a kind and quiet man. The two of them enjoyed 25 years of companionship. They traveled to Europe several times, and through Jim, Lydia was introduced to Bowling. As you might expect, she did well and was awarded many trophies.

It is rather ironic that Lydia's son, Olgerts, enlisted in the US Marine Corp (the enemy of the Germans in WWII), where he became an officer and served in Viet Nam. But the tragedy of living in a sin-filled world was not over for Lydia. In 1983, Olgerts, a husband and father of two young girls, was also killed in a car accident.

There are many other challenges that Lydia faced in her life. We could go on and on! But the question to ponder is - How did Lydia get through all of these difficult and challenging times? It wasn't because of her financial resources. It was not because of the people whom she knew. It wasn't because of the hope that better times were around the corner. No, it was assurance that God's goodness centered in her Savior, Jesus Christ was hers.

And through it all – what a story! Goodness and mercy followed Lydia all the days of her life. The Lord was Lydia's strength, and the faith began at her baptism and nurtured through the years by God's word and sacraments sustained and brought her through. For nothing could or would separate Lydia from God's love for her.

And oh, what strength he had! Until the day she went to the doctor and found out she had Luekemia, she was employed full time at Dicks Sporting good. Ask anyone who worked with her. She was such a hard worker. She served as a role model as a sales associate for many younger workers through the years.

Today we thank God for the joy and pleasure of Lydia's earthly blessings. She counted people at the top of her list - Her family and her many friends at work and here at church and in the community. While she didn't remember names real well, she knew faces. And people knew of Lydia.

While goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives, the Psalmist writes, "One day I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!" Lydia experiences eternal life in the arms of her Savior, not because her goodness, but because of God's goodness!

I can't tell you how many times in the past year Lydia told me and many of you, "I'm ready to go." As strong as she was physically, there were several occasions when she told me that she felt the time of her departure from this world was near. And how many times did she tell me that she just knew the Lord would take her quickly and without a lot of pain. It didn't do any good to argue with her if you told her that the Lord doesn't always work that way.

But the Lord answered her prayer! Early Wednesday morning, Lydia breathed her last in this world, only to wake up in the arms of her Savior who died and rose for her and made her His own. How is Lydia? Sie sind sehr gut!
Just think, Lydia will never have to grow old. (Even though she was 89, she didn't act her age, did she?) She never had to spend time in the hospital or in another care facility. She will never have to face many of the aches and pains that accompany usual geriatrics.

And the good news is this! The same Savior and Lord that Lydia embraced, is also your Savior as well. If Lydia could speak to us today, she would begin by saying, "You know is (That was her favorite phrase) …God is there for you too. Jesus is your Savior too. So trust in Him and quit worrying about stuff!"

Early Wed. morning, the Lord, our Good shepherd called one of his own to be with him. Indeed, God is sehr gut! He now holds her in his eternal arms she awaits the resurrection.

We thank God for his goodness – Lydia's amazing story and life….But most of all , today we celebrate the grace of God and the eternal victory that Lydia now enjoys everlasting goodness with her Lord and Savior.


Funeral Services for Lydia will be at 1:30 p.m., Sunday April 21, at Carmel Lutheran Church, where she was a long-time member. All are invited to gather at the church on Sunday for a visitation from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service. A private burial service will be in Summit Lawn Cemetery, Westfield.

In lieu of flowers it is suggested that memorial gifts take the form of donations to the Carmel Lutheran Church or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the care of Bussell and Bell Family Funerals, Carmel.

Lydia truly led an amazing life.


Visitation: Sunday April 21, 2013, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM at Carmel Lutheran Church; Funeral Service: Sunday April 21, 2013, 1:30 PM at Carmel Lutheran Church; Interment: Monday April 22, 2013, 10:00 AM at Summit Lawn Cemetery

This formal Obituary appearred on the Bussell and Bell Funeral Home Website April 19, 2013.