Margaret Zarchukoff (nee Holoboff)
October 29, 1916 ~ March 17, 2012
Margaret was born to William and Polly Holoboff at Pass Creek, BC on October 29, 1916, and grew up in Shoreacres, BC. At her birth, she was named Martha, but, as was the custom in her community, because she was sickly, they called her by another name.
She was known as Rita next, then finally Margaret.
Margaret came to the Creston Valley the first time to work picking fruit as a young woman. Later, she went to work as a cook on a ranch and in a logging camp in Alberta. She married John Ewashen and they lived in the Cowley area. There, she gave birth to daughter Pauline.
Then, in 1946, she and her second husband, John Zarchukoff, took up residence in Canyon. She was primarily a housewife, but also worked hard on the family farm, haying, milking, gardening, canning and cooking. She gained quite a reputation for the wonderful borscht she made and shared with friends, or rewarded those who found favor in her eyes, like the family doctor. When she made doughnuts, she would often call a friend or family member to come for tea. She has stated that her greatest pleasure was cooking her favourite Doukhobor food with family or friends. Like all Doukhobor women of the time, she also made quilts and wove rag rugs, and she knitted and crocheted as well. She was a kind, generous and loving person. Family and friends were very important to her throughout her life. She especially loved to see them drop in on her once she moved into Swan Valley Lodge in January of 2006. She had an especially close relationship with her younger sister Doris and would venture from the Lodge to travel to the West Kootenay area to visit her. In her latter years, she enjoyed reading ISKRA, and having friends and family visit her.
She was predeceased by her parents; her sisters Lucy Holoboff, Mary Kalmakoff, Vera Kalmakoff and Doris Skiboff; her daughter Pauline Moberg; son-in-law Roy Moberg; and nephews Bill and Peter Kalmakoff.
She is survived by her son John (Kathy); daughter Kathleen; grandchildren Dan (Louise), Doug (George), and Ron (Kerri) Moberg, Marlene (Tom) Walton, Derek Zarchukoff, Serena (Steve) Krahn, Teresa (Sean) Oliver and Jordan Lysenko; and “adopted” grandchildren Vernon (Lana), Monty (Connie-Lee) and Hannah McNeice, and Melody (Cordel) McNarland. She also leaves her sister-in-law Nellie Zarchukoff; a close friend and cousin, Irene Dallmann and her husband Erhardt; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews including quite a large extended family. She will be fondly remembered and sadly missed.
The Funeral Service was held on Saturday March 24, 2012 at New Life Christian Church with Pastor Gordon Lawrence and Andrew Evin officiating.
Cremation followed the service.
A private Family Interment of Ashes to take place at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Erickson, BC at a later date.
Friends wishing to make a memorial tribute may do so to the Swan Valley Lodge Equipment Fund, PO Box 1880,
Creston, BC V0B 1G0.