Helen Zmioff was born October 27, 1926 in Arran, Saskatchewan to Fred and Frances Markin.
They moved to Grand Forks, BC and she resided there until she met and married her husband Peter Zmioff in 1945. They were blessed with two daughters, Shirley and Marcie. They first resided in Krestova, then moved to Trail and then to Oliver in the Okanagan where they lived for about 10 years. They then moved back to the Kootenays. While in Oliver, Helen worked in the Packing House for a few years and then stayed home and raised her family. They lived in Castlegar until both of their daughters were married, then moved to Grand Forks. When their health started to deteriorate, they moved back to Castlegar to Castlewood Village. Helen passed away peacefully in Trail Hospital on June 27, 2013 with her daughters by her side. Helen was 86 years old.
Helen is predeceased by her parents, her husband, one son-in-law and her brothers and sisters. She leaves behind her daughter Shirley with husband Alex, daughter Marcie, 4 grandsons: Jeff and Rhonda, Dan and Leah, Rod with wife Francis and Mark with wife Manya; two great-grandsons, Trevor and Ryan, 4 great-granddaughters, Oksana, Natasha, Lexi and Abby and one step granddaughter, Samantha. She also leaves behind her sister Diana Chursinoff and numerous nieces and nephews. We love you and will miss you, our dear Mom and Baba. Rest in peace dear Mom, and Baba.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at the Grand Forks Funeral Home with burial at the USCC Sion Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Grand Forks Funeral Home.
We would like to thank each one who came to support us as we said goodbye to our loved one – we appreciate that you cared. Also, we greatly appreciated Mike Kanigan for officiating the service, Joe and Connie Kalmakov for the wonderful video presentation they put together of highlights of Mom’s life, Frances Kanigan for singing and those who spoke. Thank you to the Grand Forks Funeral Home for their guidance, the New Century Restaurant for the good food and those who sent cards, flowers and food. We are sure Mom appreciated, as we did, the excellent Russian singing in her honour.
Sincerely, The Family of Helen Zmioff