July 12, 1925 - June 21, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Polly Sawchenko at Talarico Place on June 21,2022 at the age of 96.
Polly was born July 12, 1925 in Castlegar, BC. Her parents were Peter & Martha (Maloff) Kereiff. She attended school in Castlegar where she skipped grades & eventually left school in grade 8 to help at home. Polly met her husband Mike Sawchenko in the 1940's. They fell in love, married, & lovingly looked after daughter, Marcia. Polly enjoyed gardening & had an amazing array of flowers in her yard.
She was an excellent baker & specialized in Russian cooking. She spoke & wrote fluent Russian & had a great sense of humour. All who knew Polly could expect a quick witted joke. Polly worked at the local library in the 70's & also dedicated much of her time to her grandchildren Sarah & Matthew. After the death of her husband Mike in 1982, Polly decided, in her 60's, to get her driver's license so she could travel to Kelowna to visit her daughter & grandkids. Polly was a member of the Kinnaird Church of God & was well known for her kind & caring personality as a greeter. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed daily devotions with members of the church, including her very good friend & neighbour, Bev Petit.
Polly was predeceased by her parents, Peter & Martha Kereiff, husband Mike, daughter Marcia & brother Mike. In 2019 Polly was taken into care at Talarico Place where the staff loved her bubbly personality & smiling face. She will be missed by many for her generous & loving soul. She is survived by her sister Annie Kalugin, grandchildren Sarah Bankert & Matthew Bankert, great grandchildren Sweden Bankert & Storm Bankert as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr. Ankenbauer, Dr. Merritt and all the staff for the care and love extended to Polly while she spent her last few years at Talarico Place. Cremation has taken place in care of the Castlegar Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation to a local charity of your choice.
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