OTTAWA - After a brief illness, Mati Maelde, formerly of New Glasgow, NS, passed away at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on the 2nd day of February 2007 in his 66th year. His passing was peaceful and with very little discomfort. Mati was part of a large group of Estonian refugees who settled in Marshdale, NS, in the fall of 1949. Mati led a very productive and active life participating in school sports and church group activities. He graduated from East Pictou Rural High School, NS. He spent most of his working life in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa. He was also very active in the local bowling league and participated as a referee during volley ball tournaments. Mati was predeceased by his father, Evald Maelde (Tallin, Estonia); his sister, Aime (Estonia) and step-father, Jaan Kont (New Glasgow, NS). Surviving Mati are his mother, Ivi Kont (New Glasgow, NS); his son, Steven (Lisa) (Bolton, Ont); Steven's mother, Yvonne Maelde (Toronto, Ont); and grandchildren, Angelique and Sebastian; his partner, Janet Tierney (Nepean, Ont); his brother, Peep (Joan) (Fredericton Jct, NB); and nephew, Gudo (Penny) (Moose Jaw, Sask); and grandnieces, Emma Rose and Anna Kade; niece, Corina (Paul) Schanoski (Moose Jaw, Sask); and grandnephews, Nathen Adam and Kaleb Grayson; and grandniece, Savana Hayli. Mati will be resting at the Tubman Funeral Home, Garden Chapel at 3440 Richmond Road, Nepean, Ont. Visitation Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday followed by burial at Capital Memorial Gardens on Prince of Wales Drive in Ottawa. A memorial service for Mati will be held at a later date in New Glasgow. Remembrance to Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated by the family. Mati, with his keen sense of humour and a big bright smile will surely be missed by family and friends. God Bless.