Laila Vittands Prosser, 92, of Holliston, MA, passed away peacefully and comfortably under the care of her family and devoted helper, Olita Cerbule, on November 24, 2022, following a period of declining health.
Laila was born in 1930 in Riga, Latvia, to Valters and Biruta Vittands (née Vilumsons) and was later joined by brothers Ingvars and Jekabs (Jake). The family lived through the Second World War in Latvia, but as the Iron Curtain fell, they were forced to leave for America via Germany and rebuild their lives.
Laila graduated from Simmons College and received her master’s in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, where she met Robert A. Prosser (Bob), her future husband. The two married and had three children. They raised their family in Natick while both pursued careers in science – Laila in the laboratory at Leonard Morse Hospital and Bob at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development, and Engineering Center.
In addition to her devotion to her children (and later grandchildren), Laila was a gifted singer and active member of the Latvian diaspora community in Boston. A proud Lutheran, she was a member of Bostonas Trimdas Draudze in Brookline and Christ Lutheran Church in Natick.
Laila was a force of nature – when her granddaughter was ill, Laila thought nothing of sleeping on a hospital bench at the age of 86 to take her shift so her daughter could rest. An excellent cook, sharp wit, and loving critic of those close to her, Laila meant the world to many and will be missed terribly.
Laila is predeceased by her husband Bob, her parents, and her brother Ingvars. She leaves a family stronger for having had her as its matriarch; her brother Jake and family; her daughter Louise Prosser McManus and grandchildren Maija, James and Laila McManus; her son Thomas; her son Joseph, his wife Dorian and grandchildren Nicholas, Julia and Quinn. She also leaves her dear nieces and nephews Kaiya, Tammy, John, Anika, Karla, Peter, Sean and Katie and a loving extended family.
The family will be celebrating her life privately, and Laila will be cremated and interred next to her husband Bob at the Latvian Memorial Park in the Catskills in the spring.
For those who desire, gifts in Laila’s memory may be sent to support ongoing efforts in Ukraine: https://u24.gov.ua/