Edite "Edie" Mei, 82, of Newtown, formerly of Bethel, died peacefully March 22 at the Lutheran Home in Southbury, after a courageous battle with melanoma. She was born in Riga, Latvia, on March 17, 1936, a daughter of the late Ella and Vilmars Salnitis.

Mrs Mei escaped Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1944 and came to the United States in 1949. She attended Danbury schools and was a 1955 graduate of Danbury High School. She later began a long and productive career with Perkin Elmer Corporation with duties in its accounting and travel divisions.

Her brother Andris and his wife Jalna of Roswell, Ga.; her stepsons, Robert F. Mei and his wife Barbara of Brookfield and Donald Mei of Ridgefield; her stepgrandsons, Robert F. Mei lll of New Milford, and Tyler J. Mei of Brookfield; two nieces; and a nephew survive her.

The love of her life, her husband, Robert F. Mei, Sr, predeceased her.

The Salnitis and Mei families would like to express their appreciation to the Yale Smilow Cancer Center who took the challenge in helping Mrs Mei fight her illness. Many thanks also go out to her support system of friends and neighbors who supported her throughout the years.

Services are private. There will be no calling hours upon her wishes.

Memorial donations can be made to the Melanoma Team at Yale New Haven Hospital Smilow Cancer Center, 35 Park Street, New Haven CT 06511.

Honan Funeral Home of Newtown is serving the family.