September 23, 1942 - October 18, 2022
Anne Astofooroff passed away October 18, 2022, at Ivy House (Silver Kettle) with her husband, Bill at her side.
Anne was born in Grand Forks, BC, on September 23, 1942, to parents John and Annie Horkoff, the third of five children. Anne received all of her schooling in Grand Forks, beginning at age 5 at Fructova School, transferring to the "Old Perley School" and finishing at the Grand Forks Secondary School.
While attending Sunday Schools and evening meetings in her Sion District, she met a young man named Bill Astofooroff. Bill and Anne were married March 7, 1959. Soon after they were married, Anne went to work for Mickey's Sport Shop, which later sold to Grey's. During this time, they started building their home on College Road and were blessed with two children, a daughter Daphne and a son Darryl. Anne returned to work for Eaton's Catalogue for several years, until the children were nearing their teens, she then decided to be a stay at home mom, devoting all of her time to being involved in their activities. A decision she said she never regretted. Anne kept busy by cooking, sewing and canning from the garden they raised.
Being a lifetime member of the U.S.C.C., Anne was involved in teaching Sunday School and the Youth Choir. She and Bill participated in several choirs, one of which was the Friendship Choir (whom Bill was a director). At the same time, they belonged to a husband and wife sextet called the Vocal 6. It was a busy happy time, recording albums and making new friendships. Many tours were taken to Alberta, Saskatchewan, Vancouver and Spokane, WA. Anne also served on the U.S.C.C. Ladies Committee and cooking groups volunteering her time.
In the 1980's when Parta Industries went bankrupt and Bill lost his job, Anne decided to go back to work. They purchased the Laundromat downtown and Anne got a job at His 'N Her Fashions. After working there for a few years, she moved on and in 1988, got a position as Manager of Sears. In a few years, the company wanted her to become a Merchant Owner, which meant that she would have to open her own business besides managing Sears. Accepting the challenge, Bill and Anne opened "Shadows Leisure Wear and Lingerie" and moved into a larger building location. During this time, Anne had become a grandmother, a role she cherished. She was always there for her family, supporting and loving them in all their endeavours. Entertaining family and friends over many years was a big part of who she was. She looked forward to everyone coming and would spend hours making different dishes to make sure there was plenty of food.
Anne retired in 2001. Over the years, she and Bill travelled with family and friends to many places across Canada, United States, Cuba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Russia, Alaska, and many different places in Mexico (which was one of their favorite places to visit).
Approximately 8 years ago, Anne began showing signs of the rare disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (known as PSP), which slowly progressed over the years. With the constant care of her husband Bill and help from her children, she was able to live at home until the summer of 2021 when she entered Silver Kettle's Ivy House. Still while there, her husband continued to be by her side with consistent daily care, while her children and other family members offered as much support as possible.
Anne was predeceased by her parents John and Annie Horkoff, brother Mike, sister-in-law Helen Horkoff, brother-in-law Darryl Jarrett, nephew Anton Leinweber, and in-laws George and Polly Astofooroff.
She is survived by her husband Bill, daughter Daphne (John) Popoff, Grand Forks, BC, son Darryl (Monika) Astofooroff, Grand Forks, BC, grandchildren Evan (Ayesha) Popoff, Toronto, ON, and Alia (Kyle) Popoff, North Vancouver, BC, brother Steve Horkoff, Grand Forks, BC, sister Olga (Mike) Hoodikoff, Port Alberni, BC, sister Vern (Loni) Leinweber, Marysville, BC, sister-in-law Polly Horkoff, Nelson, BC, nieces Candice Simon and Shelley Stewart, nephews Neil Horkoff, Jesse and Simon Hoodikoff, and Nicholas Leinweber, as well as many extended family and friends.
As Anne's family, we will love and miss her always. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, mentor and friend. May she rest in peace in God's Heavenly Kingdom.
Funeral services were held at the U.S.C.C. Community Centre on Saturday, October 22, 2022. Interment was in the U.S.C.C. Sion Cemetery. Donations in memory of Anne can be made to the U.S.C.C.
On behalf of our entire family, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of our relatives, friends, and neighbours for the love and support given to us during this extremely sad time. Thank you to everyone for your words of condolences through cards, house calls, text messages, emails and phone calls. Our sincere appreciation to all those who visited Anne when she was in the hospital and at Ivy House, brought food, flowers, and made donations in Anne's memory.
Thank you to those who attended, spoke, and helped with the singing during the service. To J.J. Verigin Jr. for your kind and comforting words, the cooks and kitchen helpers for preparing and serving a delicious meal with a special thank you to Donna, and to all that brought baking, to Beth and Stephanie for all of your help from the office, to the gravediggers for preparing her final resting place with a special thank you to Larry Kurnoff, to Larry Jmaiff for officiating, to The Grand Forks Funeral Home for your kind support and guidance, to the USCC Kootenay Men's Group for providing the casket, to the Boundary Hospital staff and especially to the Silver Kettle Ivy House staff for their consistent help and kindness.
Our sincere and heartfelt thank you to everyone,
Bill, Daphne, Darryl and families