While most university students wrap up the semester, the daughter of murder victim Tinde “Tina” Nemet cares for her younger siblings.
Leonora Nemet, 20, is taking a break from nursing school at Laurentian University to look after her younger siblings — Teodora, 18 and Thomas, 16 — in Ottawa following their mother’s horrific killing.
“She wants the best for them,” said Sharon Flinn, Nemet’s manager at Lockerby Taxi in Sudbury.
“She’s a very mature person for her age.”
Tinde “Tina” Nemet, 46, was stabbed to death in her Fisher Ave. home March 11.
Her estranged husband, Mihalj “Mike” Nemet, 56, has been charged with first-degree murder.
The children have essentially been orphaned and Leonora is packing up the family home and talking to the school board about the status of her brother’s grade 11 academic credits.
A funeral was held last Friday in Centretown for the loving mother of three.
“She had a good heart,” said friend Joanne Lee.
“She was always willing to help people out with anything.”
The family is originally from Zrenjanin, Serbia.
About 10 years ago they settled in Sudbury where Tina worked at the local tax centre and volunteered as a swimming official.
The Nemets moved to Ottawa roughly two years ago and rented a rowhouse in Carleton Heights.
Tina Nemet was an IT analyst at the Canada Revenue Agency.
CRA spokesman Philippe Brideau refused to associate internal fundraising efforts for the Nemet family with the company but donations have been collected.
“There’s ongoing efforts,” said Terrie Osborne.
Back in Sudbury, Leonora is so well-liked at the taxi company where she’s worked for the last four years as a dispatcher, cabbies have been pooling their tips to help support her.
So far, almost $4,000 has been raised.
But more is needed.
“Leonora wants them to stay together as a family,” said Flinn.
Donations for the Nemet kids can be made at any TD Canada Trust branch using this information: Transit # 3736; Institution # 004; Account # 6340129.
Mihalj Nemet’s next court appearance is April 5 by video.
kelly.roche@sunmedia.ca
http://www.ottawasun.com/news/ottawa/2011/03/30/17812516.html
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