April 10, 1925 - February 10, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
Helen Kabatoff passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Ivy House, Silver Kettle.
Helen was born April 10th, 1925, in a Doukhobor village located north of Lundbreck, AB, the second daughter and the youngest of six children, in the family of Alexei and Oxinia (nee Planidin) Salekin.
On January 4th, 1947, Helen was united in marriage to John Kabatoff of Woodhouse, AB. In July the young couple moved to Lethbridge where Helen worked at the dry cleaners and John worked for the CP Rail. After 11 years, John was transferred to Nelson to work in the CP Rail diesel shop and Helen gained employment at the local dry cleaners.
Retirement presented the opportunity for travel to various areas in the US. John passed away on June 24th, 1988. Helen was able to continue travelling with relatives and friends.
In 1996, Helen met Mike Gevatkoff from Grand Forks, and soon they became close friends. In 1998, Helen moved to Grand Forks and they started their life together. A short time later, they moved into a lovely new home.
Mike's daughters, Sharon and Lorraine became part of her family, and together, they travelled on a cruise ship to Alaska. Mike and Helen also took several bus tours to various locations in the US and Canada. The highlight of all their travels was a trip to Russia in 2005.
After 11 1/2 happy years of their life together, Mike passed away on February 20th, 2008. Helen continued to live in her own home until 2021 when she decided to move to the Silver Kettle. She enjoyed gardening and cooking. Helen was a kind, friendly and very hospitable person and was always happy to share her tasty dishes. She looked forward to visits with Mike's daughters, and her friends, relatives and her good neighbours.
Helen is predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Peter, John, Nick and Alex, her sister Mabel, her husband John, her partner Mike, and two nephews, Paul and Jack Salekin.
She is survived by Mike's daughters, Sharon and Lorraine, nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
We all wish Helen eternal peace in God's Heavenly Kingdom; loving memories of her will remain in our hearts forever.
A private service was held at Helen's request at the Grand Forks Funeral Home with interment at the Sion Cemetery on Friday, February 16, 2024.
Thank you to the staff at Ivy House, Silver Kettle for their kind and compassionate care;to everyone who called or visited Helen; JJ Verigin for his thoughtful and comforting words; the Baker family and staff at the Grand Forks Funeral Home; Sam Semenoff for his guidance and for officiating the service; the USCC Kootenay Men's Group for providing the casket: to the men that prepared the gravesite at the Sion Cemetery and Omega Restaurant staff for the wonderful lunch.