ALBANY – Regina Hartvigas, 92, entered eternal life on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at the Teresian House in Albany.
Born in Raseiniai, Lithuania, she was the daughter of the late Antanas and Marcele Rimkus. She spent the first part of her youth (through age 8) living an idyllic farm life with her brother, Victor, and assorted pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, horses and cows in Raseiniai and Taurage. In 1939, the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and amidst the specter of deportation to Siberia, the family moved to the town of Vertimai—Marcele’s birthplace. In the summer of 1941, Germany attacked the Soviet Union and the family moved back to Raseiniai.
In 1944, Germany was losing the war and the front was moving back from east to west. In late summer, afraid that the Soviets would return and deport the family to Siberia, Antanas decided to move the family west into Germany. What was intended to be a temporary move was decidedly not. Once they left their home and Lithuania, they never returned.
After World War II ended, displaced persons camps were being established in Germany, and Regina and her family moved to one in Hanau, near the city of Frankfurt, deep in the “American zone” of occupied Germany. She was 14. She attended a makeshift high school with her brother for three years and in 1948, the United States was one of several countries who agreed to admit war refugees would could not return to their countries for various reasons. The family was thankfully sponsored by Regina’s Uncle Steve Rimkunas, Antanas’ brother, who had immigrated to the United States many years prior. He ultimately settled in Amsterdam, and that is where Regina and her family settled as well. They arrived in their new hometown on November 1, 1948—All Saints Day—a day that held significant meaning for Regina for the rest of her life.
In Amsterdam, Regina took a job at the Fowne’s glove factory and worked there until her brother went to college. Influenced by his hard work and dedication to his studies, Regina quit her job and went to the Amsterdam School of Commerce where she graduated in the early 1950’s. She met her husband, Leonard (Levas), in the St. Casimir’s Church choir where she has said she “couldn’t carry a tune if it had a handle on it.” They were married at that same church on October 18, 1953.
After raising her three children, Regina worked at Coleco Enterprises when the Cabbage Patch Kids craze was raging. She enjoyed telling people she was part of that pop culture phenomenon but was especially happy to have been able to secure a doll for her youngest niece, Tricia. After Coleco closed, she was very proud to have gone back to school at Mildred Elley in Albany to learn data entry. Upon her graduation, she took a job at Amsterdam Printing until her retirement.
Regina was a member of the St. Casimir’s Ladies Auxiliary, the American Lithuanian Club (ALC) Ladies Auxiliary, and the Mount Carmel Ladies Auxiliary. And as the parents of a son with Down Syndrome, Regina and her husband were active supporters of the early years of Liberty Enterprises and the first elementary school class of children with special needs at the William B Tecler School in Amsterdam. She loved vacationing at “The Summer House” in Manomet, MA, and her many Auxiliary bus trips up to various attractions in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. But most of all Regina cherished spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved nothing more than hosting family and friends with her perfect pierogis, kapusta, kielbasa, and gooseberry jam. We will cherish our memories of her special Kucius (Christmas Eve) celebrations at 17 Eagle Street but will always fall short when trying to recreate them. Her skills were incomparable.
Regina was the wife of the late Leonard Hartvigas; mother of Leonard A. Hartvigas (Tina), Rima Hampson (Brian), and the late Paul Hartvigas; beloved grandmother of Scott Hartvigas and Kevin Hartvigas; special Umma to Olivia Hampson and Owen Hampson; and sister of her first best friend, the late Victor Rimkus (Geraldine). She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and many special cousins—and friends who are like family—in the United States and Lithuania.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the team at Teresian House who cared for Regina, especially Julio and his staff on 4B, and Kelsey and her coworkers in the rehab department. And a special thank you to her friends and tablemates—Sr. Rosaire, Joanie, Jane, and Betsy, and to the kind and ever-patient 4th floor Activity Director, Rachel. You all made her feel welcome and fulfilled during her time at Teresian House.
Regina planned her final wishes many years ago, and they did not include a wake or funeral. Instead, a simple graveside service was her wish, which we will celebrate per her instructions on Friday, May 24th at 10:30AM at St. Casimir’s Cemetery, Amsterdam.
Those wishing to remember Regina in a special way may send a contribution to Liberty ARC, 43 Liberty Dr. Amsterdam, NY 12010, (online at libertyarc.org); or Camp Neringa at Camp Neringa Inc., c/o Vydas Marijosius, 80 Wicks Path, Commack, NY 11725, USA, (online at neringa.org).
Regina’s care has been entrusted to Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam.
Onlince condolences can be made at www.brbsfuneral.com
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