Zigrida “Zigie” (Feldmanis) Gift passed away on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, according to an obituary published by the Williams-Bergey-Koffel Funeral Home and WFMZ-TV 69 News. Born in Preili, Latvia, she lived a life spanning European displacement during World War II, a decades-long career in the United States, and extensive community service in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Early Life and Emigration to the United States
After spending post-war years in German displaced persons camps, she and her mother emigrated to the United States in 1950, settling in St. Louis, Missouri. Adopting the American nickname “Zigie,” she learned English, worked as a clerk at the Famous Barr department store, and developed a passion for dance. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen and graduated from Webster Groves High School in 1957 before taking art classes at a local university and marrying Gary R. Gift, with whom she had two daughters, Tracy and Laura.
Family Life and Professional Career in New Jersey
In 1967, the family relocated to Ridgewood, New Jersey. During her time there, Zigie served as a homemaker, a Brownie Troop leader, and an active participant in local women’s organizations and the Newcomer’s Club, as reported by WFMZ-TV 69 News. Following her divorce, she entered the full-time workforce to support her daughters. Her career included roles as an administrative assistant at Western Union in Mahwah, New Jersey, and later in the human resources department at Bergen Pines Hospital in Paramus, New Jersey.
Retirement and Community Involvement in Pennsylvania
Upon retiring, Zigie moved to Lansdale, Pennsylvania, alongside her elderly mother to live closer to her daughters and their families. She volunteered in church nurseries, coffee hours, and local senior centers. Following her mother’s passing, she joined God’s Treasure House Ministries, serving as a house mother and a member of the Board of Directors until recently.
Survivors and Memorial Services
Zigrida was preceded in death by her parents, Nina Strauss Feldmanis Liepins and Edgar Edward Liepins. She is survived by her daughters, Tracy Lynne Johnson (and husband Robert) and Laura Ann Hart (and husband Michael), alongside her four grandchildren: Samuel Edward Hart, Tyler Robert Johnson, Olivia Rose Hart, and Haley Gift Johnson.
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