† Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver

TANIA (TATIANA) NIKITIN (1913-2001)

The Funeral of Tatiana Nikitina

Tatiana Eismont was born on December 22, 1913, in Tsftsikhar, Manchuria (China). With her parents, Alexandra Nikolaevna (nee Ossipova) and Stephan Danielovich Eismont (an officer in the Russian Imperial Army, and later, a Civil Engineer). Tania immigrated to Canada in 1925, to escape the political climate that followed the Russian Revolution. They lived, the required year with a number of other Russian immigrants in Invermere, B.C. Once the family settled in Vancouver, Tania graduated from lohn Oliver High School with high honours. As a young woman, she helped her family by working at the Mironoff Family fur store in New Westminster, and by teaching piano lessons, for many years. When she was not playing tennis, she loved going downtown with her mother to the opera, to the ballet or to a picture show at the Hollywood Theatre.

After some years of correspondence, her childhood pal, Ray Nikitin, came to Canada from Shanghai, and they were married in 1948. A year later, Tania gave birth to their only child, Marguerite. Besides her devotion to her family, Tania was actively involved, (with her husband Ray), in the formative years of the Russian Orthodox Society. Their life revolved around the church.

In the early 1950s, rallying the support of a handful of other young Russian couples, Tania and Ray organised a Parents Committee, and were instrumental in the formation of the The Russian School at their beloved Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church. With Ray as the Director, for more than 10 years, every Saturday from 8 to 3, Tania was one of the respected teachers of the Russian classes for all ages, including her ever popular adult classes in the 1960s.

Helping with lunches, frequent stage performances and annual celebrations did not stop when Marguerite grew up! The annual bazaars Fish Pond Kiosk (a family project for many, many years) became famous in 1972 when it was manned by the four generations of Tanias family. Tania remained very active in her church’s Ladies Auxiliary for the next 20 years. A dedicated member of the Russian Orthodox Society until she died, she served for many years on the Auditing Committee and as Secretary. At home, her hobbies included: painting (like her mother, whose oil paintings were often donated to the ROC), and stamp collecting (corresponding and trading with old friends in Seattle, Amy and Bill Parker (Pashkovsky) well into her eighties. She loved watching all the tennis and figure skating on t.v., playing cards and when she was not enjoying her favourite activity gardening, she was helping with her daughters ceramics business in her home for the past 27 years.

After heart surgery in 1989, she still enjoyed her weekly get together with the ladies in the church hall to do crafts and play bingo. Two years ago, with failing health, Tania moved to a very fine rest home, which she called her apartment. Pampered by help with dressing, bathing, walking, bingo, various forms of entertainment and three great meals a day, she referred to St. Vincent’s Langara (just one block north of her own house) as her palace. The residents outdoor garden even had special beds, raised to wheelchair height, giving her hours of enjoyment at her favourite past time. After pneumonia came upon her suddenly, Baba Tania (B.T.) was taken to St. Paul’s Hospital. It proved too much for her ailing heart, and she died peacefully there, on the morning of August 14th, 2001.

The Family