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Amy Semenoff

February 26, 1977 - August 23, 2014

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Amy Semenoff. Amy was born in Grand Forks on February 26, 1977, to Cindy and Walter Horkoff. She spent her early years living up the North Fork at a place called Niagara. Later the family moved to First Road on the west side of Grand Forks where Amy attended Hutton Elementary and went on to Grand Forks Secondary School. During her years at GFSS Amy met Stephen at a Border Bruins hockey game. They were waiting to be set up (introduced) by a friend when Amy took matters into her own hands and sought Stephen out. Although Grand Forks is a small town, they had never crossed paths and he asked her, “Where have you been all my life?” Even though young, Amy knew he was the one and they started dating. After graduating from GFSS, Amy decided to go to Penticton to hair dressing school, and Stephen joined her there. She graduated and did her apprenticeship in Penticton. They decided to move back to Grand Forks where they rented a house in Johnson Flats and Amy started to work at her aunt’s salon. They rented for a while, then bought a house on Central Avenue. They were married in the year 2000 and Amy was welcomed into the Semenoff family and a bond was created and strengthened over the years with her in-laws George and Irene and their children and grandchildren. She was very interested in learning Doukhobor (Russian) cooking, making borsch, pyrahi, lapsha, etc. Amy felt the Semenoffs to be a second family to her and shared many happy family get-togethers at their home. Their home was a place of comfort to her and her children. During her final days she was able to rest and find sanctuary in the Semenoff home. Amy and Stephen were blessed with their oldest daughter Hannah in 2002, and two years later with their second daughter Abby. Six years after that their family was completed with the arrival of their son Brycen. Amy and Stephen spent 22 happy years as a couple and were married for 14 of those. Amy loved being a stay-at-home mom and she took pride in raising her children. Amy was an incredible cook and loved family gatherings. Indeed, a family gathering at Amy and Stephen’s house was a joy to be part of and everyone felt welcome in their home. It is difficult to briefly put into words the kind of mom Amy was; there was no doubt her kids came first in her life. The proof is in the amazing people her two oldest children already are. Amy’s ability to show kindness to everyone, and the way she led by example in her helping of those less fortunate, are the types of lessons she taught her kids. Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and she seemed to have beaten it. She fought with absolutely everything she had; taking on surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Not too long ago she had a reoccurrence of cancer. Despite an incredible inner strength, she could not survive this treacherous disease that was too strong for our strong-willed girl; for though she had a gentle soul and a selfless spirit, she was also a fighter. She was determined and willful and will be remembered for all of these things, and certainly many more. Kindness, gentleness, loving, gratefulness was her way of life. In the final moments of her life she was surrounded by her loving husband and many family members. She is survived by husband Stephen and children Hannah, Abigail and Brycen. Also surviving are her father Walter Horkoff, mother Cindy Horkoff, brothers Ryan (Jen) Horkoff and Jason Horkoff; grandparents Helen and Steve Horkoff and Sam Horkoff and many nieces, nephews and cousins; her in-laws George and Irene Semenoff, Ken and Bobbi Semenoff, Melanie and Gord Buna, Rick and Tracy Finlay and Stephanie Pepin. Burial took place at Evergreen Cemetery. May she rest in peace.



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