Obituary of MARTHA KOZUBOWSKI

MARTHA KOZUBOWSKI Obituary of MARTHA KOZUBOWSKI (nee Popoff) With her loving daughter and son-in-law by her side, Martha Kozubowski passed away peacefully on the evening of Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at the Maples Personal Care Home after years of declining health. She was 97. As with many of us, Martha lived what some may call an ordinary life, but certainly she made a difference in many lives, which made her life extraordinary. She was a strong and responsible person who always did what was expected of her. Her love and caring ways were freely and generously given. Martha was born on March 20, 1923 in Buchanan, Saskatchewan to Wasil and Mabel Popoff, who were Russian Doukhobor immigrants. Her brothers George and Bill were older and her brother Sam, younger. Martha often spoke fondly of her childhood years, including how she would walk a fair distance to her one-room school, and how she loved to play baseball. Growing up on the farm was where Martha learned that part of life is working hard. She was a loving and dutiful daughter and a caring sibling. When Martha returned to her homestead for visits in her adult years, she would spend much of her vacation sewing blouses and skirts for her mother and cooking for her parents. Later in life she cared for her father in Winnipeg when he became ill. In 1945 Martha decided to visit the “big city” of Winnipeg with one of her cousins. She often recalled the atmosphere of the city after WW 2 ended. Soon afterwards she decided to find work and stay. Through the Russian immigrant community Martha met Alexander Kozubowski. They married on November 13, 1949 in the Russian Orthodox Church. The wedding festivities also included a celebration back at Martha’s homestead. When their daughter was born, Zoya forever became the “world” to Martha. In an era when many mothers stayed home, Martha worked full-time in the garment industry for much of her life. Yet she found time to prepare wonderfully delicious Russian meals, to entertain, to sew outfits and dance costumes for Zoya, including her choir sarafan, and she even helped with making peanut brittle for her daughter’s school fundraiser. Martha had strong friendships over the years. She enjoyed conversing and visiting with her friends and the activities she had with them, such as knitting and crocheting, playing bingo, going on bus trips to Grand Forks and attending cooking demos at The Bay. Along with her husband Alex she was a member of the Federation of Russian Canadians, and for many years Martha helped with many banquets, teas and with the baking of her tasty Russian tarts for Folklorama. Her picnic food for Husavik gatherings was a delight! Above all, Martha dearly loved her family. It filled her heart with joy when Zoya and Arthur married, and more so when she became a grandmother to Kevin and Tannis, and later on became a great-grandmother. Her endless nurturing and helpful ways, her wonderful cooking and baking and the meaningful times spent with her will be etched in her family’s memories. Martha also had a close bond with her brother Bill and sister-in-law Hilda and their family. She enjoyed many visits with them in BC. Martha moved to the Maples Personal Care Home in 2012 upon facing some health challenges. The move was a difficult adjustment for Martha and her daughter, but there were also many meaningful and joyful times. During that time Zoya experienced that her mother loved to sing! The family is grateful to their staff for the care and the engaging events provided to Martha in her last years. We thank particularly the compassionate nursing staff who cared for Martha during her last month when her health declined rapidly due to COVID-19 complications. The situation was especially difficult for Martha’s family. Martha was predeceased by her parents and all of her siblings and their spouses. Her husband Alex died on June 2, 1982. Martha leaves to mourn and to cherish her memory her daughter Zoya, son-in-law Arthur, grandson Kevin (with wife Megan and daughter Kennedy), granddaughter Tannis (with husband Brad and sons Brodie and Brock), as well as her nephew Ron (Joanna), her niece Joyce (Dave) and her niece Carol and their families. Martha never formally practiced any particular religion but she always believed in God. Her faith was formed when growing up on the farm as she witnessed her hardworking parents practice their Russian Doukhobor faith. Her life changed in many ways once she left her homestead, but she always prayed to her God, especially for the well-being of all of her family. Now we pray for eternal rest for our dear, loving and caring Mama, Grandma and Baba. Abiding by COVID-19 restrictions, a private family service will be held at Cropo Funeral Chapel at 11 a.m. (Central Time) on Friday, December 4, 2020 with Father Gerry Ward officiating. Interment will follow at the Brookside Cemetery. Condolences may be made through www.cropo.com. If desired, donations in memory of Martha may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.