In tribute to Laas’s English language musings in Eesti Elu, we are posting our thanks to our friends and family in the English section of the paper.
We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support received from individuals and organizations in our local community and abroad. Condolences received from the President of Estonia, from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, from the Estonian Embassy in Ottawa, from the Consulate General of Estonia are sincerely appreciated. We were moved that Laas was honoured posthumously with the Jaan Poska medal for outstanding services in protecting the principles of the Tartu Peace Treaty.
We have found comfort in the memories and photos that have been shared with us over the past weeks. Thank you for your kind words, warm hugs, flowers, thoughts, generous donations and gestures, whether they have arrived in person, by phone, by mail, electronically, in Eesti Elu, at the memorial, in the form of nourishing soup, through a joke, shared tears or otherwise.
We are particularly grateful to Eesti Elu for the heartfelt articles dedicated to his memory. We were touched to read all the memories, tributes and condolences in Eesti Elu.
Thank you to pastor Jüri Puusaag for his guidance, compassion, comforting words and a beautiful service.
Thank you to Avo Kittask, Toronto Eesti Meeskoor and Erik Kreem for gracing us with music at the memorial service.
We are grateful to all the speakers at the service and at the reception at the Latvian CCC. Your words brought solace, tears, laughter and honoured Laas memorably.
Thank you to everyone at Peetri kirik for their support and kindness.
Ellen, Risto, Maaja ja perekond
