Polly was born on December 7, 1929 in the Doukhobor Community of Ubezheshche, meaning “Refuge”, of Grand Forks, to the family of Vasya and Ganya Zibin. The village where Polly grew up and was raised was called Ozeroff Village and was located in the Spencer Hill area. Polly was the second child born into a family of five children – sister Helen, who passed away when she was six weeks old and sisters Sheryl and Lisa and a brother Cecil. Education of English and Russian languages was received at home which was taught to her by her father. When Polly was still a young girl, she worked in the fields of Grand Forks, on different farms that grew seed and vegetables. She also worked in the fruit orchards of the Okanagan Valley in the packing houses and canneries. In her younger years Polly loved music, she played a guitar while singing and also played an accordion at different youth gatherings. She also took part in the evening youth meetings, where she sang with her sister. In those days she belonged to a choir; which was under the directorship of Stepen N Petkov.
Through her lifetime, starting when Polly was young she lived in the Okanagan Valley for 12 years, then for 20 years in Midway, B.C. and the remaining years in Grand Forks. She knew how to sew, crochet and do needlework. In the early fifties, Polly met a young lad named Larry Kimoff. They fell in love and on September 19, 1953 they were united in marriage. In Midway, they built themselves a home and started their family there. There they were blessed with four children, daughter Helen and three sons, Joe, Lawrance and Paul. Polly’s husband Larry worked a steady job and Polly stayed home to raise their family and look after their homestead. Together, they always had a big garden and grew many different vegetables from which their family benefited through summer and winter. Polly also liked to grow flowers. Their home was always surrounded with different greenery and beautiful flowers. Being a very hospitable and friendly lady, Polly always liked to have guests to entertain. No one left her house without tasting some of her good food.
Polly was a member of the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ and participated in its different activities. She belonged to the ladies group that made “lapsha” (noodles), and also belonged to the choir of Psalmist that participated at different meetings and funerals.
Some four years ago, Polly’s health began to decline and in 2008, she was admitted into “Hardy View Lodge”, where on the evening of November 29, 2012, with her family by her side, Polly passed away. She was 83 years of age, just short two weeks of celebrating her 84th birthday.
Polly was predeceased by her young sister; Helen, her parents, father Vasya and mother Ganya Zibin and her brother Cecil. She is survived by her husband Larry Kimoff, with whom she lived with for 59 years; her children, daughter Helen Kimoff (Ed Manuel) of Victoria, B.C.; and her sons, Joe (Carol) of North Vancouver, B.C. and Paul (Connie) of Grand Forks, B.C. She also leaves behind two sisters; Sherly Felker of Kamloops, B.C. and Lisa Hadikin (George) of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. She is also survived by one grandson, Jessie and numerous other relatives and friends.
Polly was a kind and devoted wife, mother and grandmother who tried to live a Christian way of life. Polly touched many hearts and will be deeply and sadly missed by all who knew her. We will always remember her as a quiet, gentle, loving and kind natured wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
May God accept her soul into His heavenly kingdom and may she rest in peace!
A traditional Russian Doukhobor funeral was held Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at the USCC Community Centre in Grand Forks, B.C. with a burial following at the USCC Sion Doukhobor Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Everett Baker of Grand Forks funeral Home.