Anastasia was born on January 8th, 1913 in Ootischenia to parents John and Doris Popoff. She was the 2nd youngest of six children. Anastasia grew up in Ootischenia with her brother John and sister Laura. Her older sister Polly and her two older brothers Eli and Nick, died in Saskatchewan before she was born.
As a young girl Anastasia enjoyed planting fruit trees in Brilliant & Ootischenia. Also she worked in the Kootenay Columbia Jam Factory. Her job there was to label the fruit containers as they came off the product line. Anastasia enjoyed making the trip to Wyndell on the Kootenay Lake Ferry to pick strawberries and to make a little bit of money.
She grew up in the community which was known as the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, which was dedicated to strict Doukhobor principals, she enjoyed the communal way of life and she participated in many events.
On December 3, 1930, Anastasia married William Masloff and they spent all their years living in Ootischenia, where they raised three daughters, Nettie, Jane and Vera, and a son, Bill.
Anastasia enjoyed canning, gardening, cooking, and sewing. She also loved to knit and crochet. But most of all, she liked to entertain her friends and relatives in her home. She was a kind, spiritual and a very generous person. Anastasia was a dedicated life-long member of the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ. She loved to sing in the local choir and she had a gifted memory for psalms & hymns. Anastasia enjoyed working in her garden and loved having beautiful flowers in and around her home. She was frugal and thrifty and very well organized. Anastasia's life always revolved around her family first, and most importantly, her children, her grandchildren and then her blessed great-grandchildren. Anastasia passed away on April 27th, 2009 at Talarico Place, at the age of 96.
Anastasia is survived by her daughters Vera Pruss and Jane McDonald and her son Bill, all of Castlegar: five grandchildren, Russ (Sylvia), Vickie (Lorenzo), Edward (Theresa), Gale (Mark), Adam ( Suzy); five great-grandchildren, Myles, Tracey, Molly, Elisa, Haegan and several special nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband William, her daughter Nettie Kanigan, 3 son-in-laws: Mike Kanigan, Leo McDonald, Ed Pruss, her sister Laura Babakaiff and her brother John J. Popoff.
Anastasia's memory will live on and she will always be loved, missed and remembered by the family she left behind.
May God accept her soul into his heavenly kingdom and may she rest in peace.
Funeral services were held at the Ootischenia Community Hall on Friday may 1st, 2009, followed by the interment at Ootischenia Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were in the care of the Castlegar Funeral Chapel.
The family wishes to thank our relatives, friends & the community for the love, support and prayers during Anastasia's service. Special thanks to Dr, Tracey Clemans-Gibbon and the staff of Castlegar Medical Associates; Home Support & their staff for the care that Anastasia received at her home; to Dr. Vasil and the staff at Talarico Place; the staff of Castlegar Funeral Chapel; all the families who came to the funeral, brought food, flowers, fruit baskets, cards and donations; all the singers, cooks, and grave diggers; the Kootenay Men's Group for their superior craftsmanship in making the coffin.
Special thanks to Walter Popoff for officiating the funeral service. It was very generous of him. He was always there to help us when we needed him.
May god bless you all.