Obituaries

Maria was born on August 14, 1923, in Skelka, Zoporigia, Ukraine. She passed away on June 18, 2017 at the age of 93 in Kelowna, BC. She is survived by her children: Dinah Middleton, Tamar Stengl (John Stengl), George Tkachenko (Ann Tkachenko), and Gloria Tower; her grandchildren: Ted Middleton, Stephen Middleton (Tara Middleton), Jennifer Klassen (Daryl Klassen), Julie Blenkin (Leison Blenkin), Michal Tkachenko Barker (Nigel Barker), Teresa Porter (Gregg Porter), Laura Koch (Ryan Koch), Anna Vandas (Dave Vandas), Sheldon Tower (Carol Tower), and Michael Tower (Cy Tower); and 22 great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Alex in 2000 and great granddaughter, Charlotte, in 2016.
Maria spent the early part of her life in Skelka, going to school and then at 10 taking on the responsibility of cooking for her family while her parents went to work on the farm. During WW2 she became a displaced person in Germany where she met her future husband, Alex. Within a year they were married and within 3 more years, she had born twin daughters, Dinah and Tamar, and son, George. In 1950 they emigrated by ship to Canada and settled in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. A fourth child, Gloria, was born 8 years later.
Maria spent her life looking after her family at home, cooking, cleaning, sewing and tending to a large vegetable garden and being involved in the Ukrainian Baptist Church community. She loved flowers. For a brief time, in Winnipeg, she worked as a seamstress. Maria was very feisty at times, speaking out about issues in the news or about things that were on her mind. She loved shopping and going out to different restaurants. Alex and Maria moved to Kelowna in 1985. In their retirement, they spent time traveling to Arizona and other locations.
Maria attended the Ukrainian Baptist Church and was a faithful Christian. She will be dearly missed by family and friends.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 8th, 2017, at Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.springfieldfuneralhome.com, 250-860-7077.

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