Adina Kalnins was the tenth child of Vilums Kalnins and Marija Zakis, born in Riga, Latvia.

Vilums Kalnins married Marija Zakis in the 1880's and they had eleven children: (all born and died in Latvia except where noted)
-- son Janis 1 (Jannes) their first child who died immediately after birth
-- daughter Karline (1887-1969)
-- son Janis 2 (Jannes) born 25 Nov 1893
-- daughter Elza (born 1895 and died very young)
-- son Peteris born 23 Jan 1896 - died 1936
-- son Karlis (born 1897, died as infant in 1897)
-- daughter Anna Marija (born April 22 1899 - died in Caifornia Jan 29 1986)
-- son Vilis (born Oct 5 1903 - died 1937)
-- daughter Alina (born 1903 - died 1920 in Omsk, Russia)
-- daughter Adina (born Feb 8 1906 - died Dec 31 1997)
-- daughter Millija (born Jan 4 1909 - death date unknown)

Adina's father Vilums was a factory worker, working at the Feniska factory in Riga, then in Tomsk, Russia when the factory moved at the start of World War I. He also worked at the Omsk Mechanical Factory in Omsk, Russia (Siberia). The family moved to Omsk during World War I because it was too dangerous to live in Riga or Moscow, and there were severe food shortages. In Omsk there were jobs for Vilums and his older children, and sufficient food for the family.

However, in 1920 in Omsk there was a bad epidemic of tuberculosis. Many people died within six months of contracting TB. Vilums and his daughter Alina both contracted TB and died in 1920 within a week of each other. Both are buried in a cemetery in Omsk (cemetery is not known). The rest of the family did not get TB and returned to their home in Riga, Latvia in 1921.

Adina lived the rest of her life in Riga, Latvia. When she was a young woman she helped her older sister, Anna, by looking after Anna's three young children while Anna and her husband, Rev. Hermanis Redins, were busy with their work for the Baptist church. Adina's two nieces and nephew were very close to her and considered her as a mother figure.

Adina Kalnins married Jekabs Jordans and they had one daughter, Rute. Adina died in 1997 at the age of 91.