Obituary of Vesma Gabliks

Vesma Gabliks, 82, of Brick, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 5, 2018. Born in Sesava, Latvia, her family fled their beloved homeland during World War II to evade Soviet occupation. Vesma lived in Germany for seven years before starting a new life in the United States in 1951. She graduated from New Brunswick High School in 1955 and worked for the Boy Scouts of America at their national headquarters in North Brunswick. In 1961 she married Indulis Gabliks and they started their family together. Vesma and her husband were very active in the Latvian community and both had served as caretakers of Priedaine, the New Jersey Latvian Cultural Society in Howell Township for over 25 years. She was a member of the New Jersey Latvian Society and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of New Brunswick & Lakewood. As a young adult she was an avid volleyball player, participating in several league teams. Above all, Vesma was a wonderful, loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt. Her bubbly and light-hearted personality would light up a room and will be dearly missed by all.

Vesma was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Indulis Gabliks; parents, Karlis and Milda Pauluks; and two sisters, Aina Platais and Dzidra Zanders. She is survived by her three children, Eriks Gabliks and his wife, Kelly of Oregon, Maris Gabliks of Adelphia, and Inga Gabliks and her husband, Alan Coffey of Wall; two grandchildren, Marisa and Alexander of Jackson; a sister, Liga Neimanis of Syracuse; a daughter in law, Denise Gabliks of Jackson; and five nieces and one nephew.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Latvian Memorial Park Cemetery, 414 Bloomer Road, Tannersville, NY 12485 for Vesma’s 1:00 PM Memorial Service on October 7, 2018. For those who desire, memorial contributions in Vesma’s name may be made to the John Drulle M.D. Memorial Lyme Fund, 702 Brewers Bridge Road, Suite 2, Jackson, NJ 08527. All arrangements are under the direction of the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township. For information, directions, or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.