Jirina Orlt passed away quietly at the age of 91 at her home in Sun City on Friday, September 19, 2014, in the presence of her son Vladimir. Jirina was born on July 2, 1923, in Hostivař (Prague). Jirina lost her parents at a young age and spent her formative years with her maternal grandfather. She opened her first fashion studio in Prague in her early twenties. She met her future husband Vladimir Orlt in the early ‘50s and they wed shortly thereafter, in 1953. Their only child, Vladimir Jr., was born in 1956. Vladimir and Jirina decided to escape the stifling Communist regime and immigrated to Canada, where Vladimir’s grandparents and aunt lived, settling in Montreal in 1964. After Vladimir’s death, Jirina remarried and moved to the US, but the marriage did not last. She resided in San Diego, CA and subsequently in Sun City for many years, dividing her time equally between residences in the US and in Canada. Jirina always longed to return to her native Czechoslovakia. She did return several times, most recently in 2004. Jirina was an honest, loving and upright (and occasionally too trusting) person who could be strict and demanding with herself as well as with others but always returned the love shown to her twofold and always longed for affection and honest and trusting relationships. She was especially close to her son Vladimir, who survives her along with her cousins Judy and Suzy, her stepsons Peter and Otto, and their families. She will be sorely missed by friends and family on both continents.