† Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver

05.09. 1910 – 2000, Fraser View Cemetery

Raisa was born in Siberia Russia on the 5 September 1910 to Russian Parents.

Raisa’s father was known as Peter the merchant. The family owned a dairy store. I don’t remember her mothers name but I do know she was known as a lady and a wonderful hostess and someone who could cook and throw a great party. She also helped her husband in the store. Raisa was one of 7 children 3 girls and 4 boys and is survived by Sophia the youngest whom is presently living in Australia.

Raise described herself to me as a high-spirited girl who often got up to mischief but on the whole was obedient and hardworking at home and school.

During the troubled times in Russia the family moved to Harbin near the border of Russia and China. Times were difficult for the family. Raisa’s family had Russian rubles but it was worthless. I heard many stories of how Raisa was sent to bargain for bread and vegetables and spent thousands of rubles for a loaf of bread.

Raisa left home at the age of 18 and moved to Shanghai and I believe was eventually Joined by family members. After arriving in Shangbi she worked in a chocolate shop (cafe). She told me it was hard work but that she enjoyed the opportunity of meeting people there. This is where she met her husband Uri.

She told me wonderful stories of how Uri would come in night after night and order a coffee and just look at her but because he was a few years older than Raisa was too shy to ask her out. He eventually managed to ask for that first date and it continued to an engagement from then. They were married in 1930. Uri was I hear a kind and hardworking man with a great love of music. He was a musician in his spare time and conducted many orchestras. Perhaps Raisa learned her love of music from him.

Raisa had many stories from her life in Shangbi I am sure most of you have heard at least some of them. From what I remember Raisa had many dinner parties, which was a great love of hers. Raisa had a great talent for putting on a good spread of delicious food, which not only tasted good but was served up with such style. Raisa s dinner table always looked beautiful and festive.

In 1951 Raisa and Uri moved to Kingston Ontario. Uri had been transferred by the company he worked for The Aluminum factory.

I know from Raisa’s good friend Nadia that she enjoyed Kingston. Raisa s friends in Kingston said they remembered Raisa as Kind ‑ One who supported her family. Someone who loved dogs and cats that loved to travel and was a wonderful hostess. Raisa was reluctant to move but in 1964 when Uri retired they moved to Vancouver. By now Raisa was used to uprooting and she came to enjoy Vancouver too. Uri died 10 years later at the age of 74 with cancer.

I met Raisa in 1980 and over time she became a part of my families lives. Raisa and I had a common love of cooking and travel she told me of her trips to Kenya Russia Greece Italy and Switzerland and I shared my travels with her. We both also enjoyed the arts and we went to every Opera, Ballet Orchestra, theatre that we were able to.

We shared many hours in the kitchen where I showed her my African dishes and she showed me how to make piroshki, pelmeni and pickled fish. I would also join Raisa and her friends Olga, Nina, Lena for a game of cards, which she makes her own rules for and which she thoroughly enjoyed. We fondly knew Raisa as the Russian bulldozer. We said that as a fond joke but what we really meant was that she was a woman of such strength and determination that few things could hold her down. I remember when she badly broke both wrists and they were put in casts for 9 weeks. When they were taken off she couldn’t move her hands. She was told it would be a few months before she would be able to use them properly. She worked so hard at recovery and exercise that in 2 weeks the Doctors were amazed at her progress. Just a bump in the road.

Another bump was when she was hit by a car in 1997 at the age of 87 three ribs were broken plus nasty bruising on face and body. The doctors were convinced she would get pneumonia and become gravely ill but that was just another bump she was back on her feet in no time. There were lots of stories like that and that is how she got her name the bulldozer. She would laugh when I called her that.

Raisa had many loves Russia was a big love of hers and she followed the news on her homeland with study and concern. This church was also a love of Raisa. She would be here as often as she could even traveling by 2 busses and one and a half hour bus ride to be here Sundays and special occasions despite having very severe disease, which caused her terrible pain.

I am sure you could all tell wonderful stories about Raisa and perhaps later when we are having lunch we could share a few. I am also sure we could tell stories that are not as positive but why would we do that today. We are here to celebrate the 90 years that the Lord allowed her to share with us on earth and trust Him with her eternal life. On behalf of Raisa’s family in Australia and Russia I thank Father Michael and associates for overseeing Raisa and to help carry out her wishes for her burial. I also thank you all for attending today’s service and would like to invite you for lunch here following the internment at Fraser View Cemetery.

Written by Susan Janetti (friend)