Mary Louis Padowinikoff was born to the family of Lucy and Louis Popoff in Thrums, BC on August 31, 1920. She was the eldest of four children: Mary, Grace Filipoff, Ely and Peter. As a small child she moved to California with her parents and sister Grace for three years. They then moved back to Thrums, BC, where her brother Ely was born. At age 15, they moved to Proctor, BC where she fondly remembered swimming in the waves from the Nasookin ship that plied the waters of Kootenay Lake. From there they moved to Winlaw, BC until she got married to Mike Padowinikoff on March 31, 1939. They had four children, 9 grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mary passed away peacefully at 10:45 AM on Saturday, March 30, 2013 at Mountain Lake Seniors Community at the age of 92, where she was a resident for the last five years.
Mary was predeceased by her husband of 55 years in December 1994, her daughter Mary Zaitsoff in June 1976, her grandson Christopher Zaitsoff, her son Mickey in January 2011, and her grandson Sasha Padowinikoff of Iowa, USA in 2012.
Left to mourn her is her son Fred (Sally) of Slocan Park, BC, son Billy of Bara de Navidad, Mexico, daughter in law Anne of Slocan Park, BC. Grandchildren; Barry (Vicky), Shelly Podovilnikoff, Pam (Jeff Sheloff), Dave (Ruth), Chad (Rianna), Yurz (Janet) and Mathew Zaitsoff. Great grandchildren Eddy Podovilnikoff, Bryce Sheloff, Addison Padowinikoff, Dara Farrier and sister-in-law Nellie Popoff of Nelson, BC.
Mary was an avid gardener and an excellent cook and she shared her bounty with the whole family.
The family would like to say a very special thank you to Mary’s sister-in-law Nellie Popoff for being there for her through thick and thin.
May Mary rest in eternal peace. She will be greatly missed by her surviving family.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Thompson Funeral Service Ltd. On-line condolences may be expressed www.thompsonfs.ca