Ilzė agreed to share the post with the news portal Žmonės.lt.
In the published sensitive letter, she shared touching memories about Aistė’s extraordinary kindness, her quiet struggle against institutional pressure, and her endless dedication to dozens of homeless cats.
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“Shaken: probably everyone who knew Aistė Ignatavičiūtė, even if only virtually, feels this way today. For some time, I had a bad feeling, which was confirmed late last night.
It turned out that Aistė Ignatavičiūtė died under very painful circumstances. Beyond reality departed a being of exceptional empathy and indescribable humility, as if not entirely of this Earth, gifted with a heart of immense size, which held dozens of ‘adopted’ and countless homeless cats, whom Aistė cared for tirelessly, sparing no effort or resources.
The price she paid for this, many of us only learned tonight, upon discovering the poverty in which Aistė herself lived.
I sincerely hate the tradition of ‘public mourning,’ when after death everyone suddenly remembers a person and starts publicly honoring them. I always say: love living people, and say the kindest words directly to them. ‘Flowers for the living’ is my invented campaign encouraging giving flowers to the LIVING, not carrying tons of them to graves for the dead. (Instead of flowers at my funeral, I ask to raise bird and bat houses – if someone does otherwise, I will ban them even after death.)
However, this text of mine is not ‘public mourning.’ It is an opportunity for others to better know Aistė and a personal testimony that we succeeded: we managed to build a relationship and exchange kind words and warm emotions while she was alive. Our quiet, introverted communication in the form of public comments and private correspondence lasted many years. We probably helped each other as best we could.
Cautiously, avoiding being overly patronizing, I inquired how she and her whole company were living – at that time, she admitted, eleven cats. I supported her through a cat’s leg amputation and other feline troubles. I sincerely ‘worried’ that Aistė would change her extremely exhausting job and rejoiced with her when she succeeded. I encouraged Aistė to have a vision of owning a home, to think and plan about it so she wouldn’t have to live where she did.
I had a dream that D. and I would drive over, fill the trunk with cat food, and bring gifts to Aistė. But I kept postponing it because, like Aistė, I am an introvert – and then the sociopathic monsters from the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) came to me, and there were no resources left to support others.
It turned out that Aistė supported me greatly not only in hoarding cat food but also in the fight against the VMI rat nest. Her humor helped me laugh many times on days when it felt like I couldn’t breathe from stress. Aistė even made me cry – during the harshest years of my life, she unexpectedly transferred me several dozen euros. Although I didn’t know how she herself lived then, my intuition said it was one of the biggest sacrifices I have ever received. I immediately knew: as soon as I can, I will repay her with interest.
Unfortunately, for my public support and healthy laughter at the VMI rat den, the VMI sovietbobs started mobbing Aistė using the police – using the sole pretext of her one comment (that if she were in my place, she would already ‘want to borrow a HIMARS’). The police investigator was straightforward: the complaint against Aistė was filed by ‘VMI employees.’ Which ones? Trying to find out, we opened Pandora’s box.
Thus, Aistė became a heroine in my book ‘Against the State Monster Empire,’ though unnamed by name or pseudonym – but it is precisely Aistė who is the person mentioned in the book whom the VMI rats mob using the police.
Aistė faced that situation extraordinarily stoically: she feared nothing, laughed at institutional pests, provided me with all the information, sent all the staged pre-trial documents so I could appeal to law enforcement for police abuse of power.
The staged pre-trial case against Aistė was swiftly dropped when I publicly threatened the VMI women that if they continued to harass her, I would post on Facebook things they never dreamed of. And again, Aistė and I chuckled together…
Such a mystical coincidence – the pervert Sabaliauskas also started virtually persecuting Aistė, who – using the name of my deceased cat – conducted a two-year smear campaign from fake profiles against me and ‘Ilzė’s workshops.’ But Aistė only laughed at the pervert Sabaliauskas’ efforts…
Today, the ‘pre-trial’ used by the VMI rats against Aistė is already part of the pre-trial investigation materials I initiated – along with searches at Sabaliauskas’ place.
Looking back, I see how many blows Aistė absorbed for me and with what humor she endured it all – like a quiet and unpretentious guardian angel.
As soon as I began to recover financially after the hardest years of persecution by VMI and criminal actors, I first thought of Aistė. I transferred a ‘basket’ for the veterinary expenses of a homeless cat she decided to ‘adopt.’
Later, my ‘greetings’ to her furry mafia repeated from time to time. When I could, I transferred 100 euros; when I couldn’t, I sent 50. Every time I could contribute to the expenses of her cat farm, I felt an incredibly good feeling in my heart. I did not know a person who would have sacrificed so much for animals as Aistė did. And who would be so grateful.
Aistė was one of the first to receive the manuscript of the book ‘Against the State Monster Empire.’ Later, I sent her the book as a gift, but today I cannot recall what I wrote when signing her copy. I think it must have been something about rats and cats…
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After my last transfer to Aistė this spring, she wrote that she no longer knew how to thank me and was thinking of coming to wash my windows. It squeezed my heart. I thought: Aistė, just accept and enjoy, take care of yourself and the ‘team’… All those years I addressed her formally as ‘You,’ but every time I saw her icon with stairs stretching across a green meadow, a warm feeling came over me: as if I were seeing a long-known person.
I missed Aistė probably at the end of June. I felt she had disappeared somewhere. The last thing she shared on FB was my post about the VMI chief Edita Janušienė sitting on two chairs at once.
A bad feeling came over me. I found Aistė’s relatives on FB, saw that her mother was sharing flowers and recipes, and thought: well, if the mother shares such content, nothing bad could have happened to the daughter. Maybe she just wants to rest from Facebook.
But I felt something was wrong. I wrote to Aistė. She did not respond. Later I realized I had her phone number since I sent her the book as a gift to a parcel locker – I could call or text. But when I thought of this, it was already too late.
Aistė died alone, probably suffering immense physical and emotional pain.
Although we never met in person, she was with me during the darkest years of my life. Was I enough with her during the hardest years OF HER?
Today I cannot stop feeling guilty. Although I understand intellectually that in Aistė’s last years I probably did more for her and her cats than some of her relatives, and although I myself lived in an extraordinary meat grinder until August because of the same VMI rats’ initiated fines and civil cases, so I did not have much resource to think about how others live and feel, I cannot stop feeling guilty.
Last night, after the news of Aistė’s death, I did not sleep until half past three in the morning. That is when I started writing this text.
How beautiful Aistė was, I only found out tonight while looking for her photo. I borrow this from Aistė’s relatives.
If we lived in a just world with a healthy, open church, Aistė would be beatified and declared a saint and protector of animals. Although I think she herself would laugh a lot at such an idea. This is how I want to remember Aistė: loving cats and laughing.
“On Sunday at 11 o’clock, one of the churches in Lithuania will pray for Aistė and the peace of her soul. I simply asked for a mention in the mass. I invite believing friends to join in thoughts at that time or another: say a prayer, light a candle, ask for her mention in prayer. She probably died unrestfully. Ask for peace for her soul.
Again: I share this text not to encourage the tradition of ‘public mourning,’ but so the world learns about an extraordinarily humble, yet brave and big-hearted girl, and we come closer to fulfilling Aistė’s last will. That is finding new homes for her cats.
I think everyone who knew Aistė even a little will agree: nothing would be as important to her as knowing that her furry mafia will be well cared for. Unfortunately, Aistė’s relatives gave her cats to Grinda. Let’s do everything to ensure the remaining living cats are protected from a cruel fate.
Ideally, all five (yes, only five now) of Aistė’s cats (including the legendary Pavaroti) would settle in one cozy, peaceful home. Perhaps this will require our financial help. But agree: it will be MUCH more useful than carrying a withering wreath to the cemetery or ‘investing’ in a plastic wreath,” the well-known poet wrote sensitively.
Looking for care for Aistė’s cats
The biggest concern after Aistė’s death remains her pets. Ilzė reported that currently five cats remain, who after their owner’s death ended up in the “Grinda” shelter.
“Let’s unite and all together organize the ‘adoption’ of Aistė’s cats until the end of their days, until they go to Heaven to the beloved person who held so many cats in her heart. These will truly be the most meaningful flowers for Aistė,” she added.
More posts about the needed care for 5 kittens appeared on the social network “Facebook.”
“The animals of our dearly beloved late owner Aistė need all our help. The family turned away from them, although to Aistė they were her whole life.
Temporary care or permanent homes are urgently sought for 5 kittens.
Share! Write to the ‘Priglausk’ Facebook page if you can help. They deserve the best life, the kind Aistė tried to give,” the published announcement says.
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