Velga Dunis

Velga Dunis passed away on the morning of May 26th, 2026 in her home in Madison, Wisconsin, where she lived for 53 years.

She was born on March 25th, 1942 in Dobele, Latvia, the daughter of Marija-Vera and Herberts-Jekabs Misins.

She was a spiritual aspirant, devoted mother and grandmother, brilliant intellectual, advocate, social worker, teacher, and good friend to many.

She lived her early life through WW2, while separated from her father, her mother, sister and her fled the Soviet occupation in Latvia and walked across Europe, living in DP (refugee) camps in Germany until they were reunited with her father in France at the end of the war. The little village called Saint-Laurent-d’Agny became her home through grade school and then Lyon for Secondary school. In the late 1950’s they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

She studied at the UW Madison and then earned a degree in French at the Sorbonne University of Paris in 1964. She became a high school French teacher, and then in the 1980’s was a teacher and director of wholistic education at Sunrise School. She worked for many years as a Program Coordinator and Director at ARC Community Services, a non-profit serving marginalized women and children in Wisconsin, where she was grandfathered-in her social work credentials through her years of experience.

Not as well known, she grew up singing in Latvian choirs, and had a gifted voice that allowed her to anchor the choral repertoire of the spiritual musical group, JAYA, especially during spring and winter solstice celebrations in Madison.

She devoted her life to service of others, including her decades of devotion to caring for her oldest daughter, Beatrise (Brahmi), whom she cared for at home. An enduring unconditional love for her younger daughter, Indra, provided the foundational support for Indra’s own path as a mother and artist. Becoming a grandmother was a deep joy of her life, and she was a loving and gentle Grandmama.

Velga’s spirituality was central to her life. Hers was a “path of the heart” as she embraced a universal outlook honoring the spirituality in all paths. Her life centered on embracing the spirituality within herself and honoring the sacredness in others. Her life was a path of service, always supporting the growth and highest potential in those in her life, the people she served in her work and the support and encouragement she gave to friends and family.

Velga is survived by her daughters Beatrise (Brahmi) and Indra, son in law Aaron, and her grandchildren, Mikko and Marlon.