Our Dear Mom passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2014 at KBRH at 80 years of age with her family by her side. Betty was born in Thrums, BC on August 3, 1933 to Walter and Mary Abrossimoff and grew up and received her education there. She was older sister to Mary and Cathy. In 1952 she married John Evin and they began their life together in the Evin village in Ootishenia where children Christine, John and Sally were born. In 1959 they bought property in Robson where they built the family home and completed their family
with daughter Karen. Karen arrived on her Mom’s birthday, which made that day and every August 3 after that extra special.
Betty was a hard working and devoted wife, mother and homemaker. She excelled at all things domestic with a flare for embroidery, needlework and, like her mother before her, sewing beautiful clothing for her children. She was an avid gardener of vegetables, berries and fruit trees, with an extraordinary touch for flowers. Her yard was a showcase of colors and scents, all the flowers you can imagine and highlighted by a breathtaking rose arbour. She had an especially green thumb for roses.
Betty first worked outside the home in the late 1960s as a cook at the Evin logging camp in Renata. A 30 year catering career followed, when her Mom, sister Mary and she teamed up to feed hungry golfers at the Castlegar Golf Club and catering private functions in the off season. When their Mom retired, Betty and Mary catered at the Granite Point club for several more years. Betty’s other special touch was her fruit tarts, her pyrahi, and she was famous for them. She was always on the hunt for local homegrown fruit, your fruit wasn’t safe when Betty was around, and her recipe was sheer perfection. Betty hand made thousands upon thousands of tarts that were sold at local outlets and coveted by family and friends at every occasion. Her most memorable tart sale was to Johnny Cash at the Castlegar Airport when he arrived on his private jet for a concert in Trail. He bought a couple on his way in, and bought a whole bunch more the next day on his way out!
In 1992 Betty left Robson behind to move to Castlegar to live with Chris and family, and she quickly adapted to the many perks of “city life”. In 1998 she settled into the newly constructed Sandalwood Court where she continued to bake oodles of tarts, cultivated new gardens and stunning roses and enjoyed the company of many new friends. She played crib to her heart’s content, was ever eager for a game and thrilled to compete at several BC Seniors Games. She was also a regular at the Seniors Centre.
Betty had a lifelong love of sports. She played many well into her later years and tried most others at least once. She whole heartedly supported her children in all their sporting endeavours and when her beloved grandchildren came along, she somehow became an even bigger fan and cheerleader. She never missed a hockey game, figure skating competition or rugby, lacrosse, fastball or basketball game. She travelled the countryside to cheer them on and cherished every newspaper clipping.
Betty also enjoyed many tropical holidays, took the grandkids to Disneyland, orchestrated a family trip to the World Figure Skating Championships and made many trips to Vancouver to visit son John. This past year Betty travelled as often as she possibly could to visit the light of her life and her greatest joy, Great Granddaughter Anika. We know Great Baba E will forever be Anika’s #1 fan and cheerleader and be watching from above.
Betty endured the loss of her parents and we must now somehow endure our loss of her. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her daughter Christine (Phil Datchkoff), and granddaughters Lisa (Luke Lucht and Anika) and Jennifer (Jeffrey Craig). Son John (partner Cindy Erikson & son Julien). Daughter Sally (Arnie Davison) and grandsons Jeremy and Travis. And daughter Karen (Doug Knowler) and grandsons Zack and Jesse. Also left to mourn are her sisters Mary (Bill Perehudoff) and Cathy Abrossimoff and many special nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were under the care of Castlegar Funeral Chapel with interment at Park Memorial Cemetery in Castlegar. The family would like to thank Peter Zaytsoff for officiating our blended Doukhobour service. In lieu of flowers, please support the Castlegar Hospice Society or the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC. The family deeply thanks the staff and nurses at Castleview Care Centre and KBRH for their warm and compassionate care of Betty towards the end of her journey. Thank you to friends and family for your kind expressions of sympathy and generous support in our loss. We love you Mom and will miss you like crazy. You were a positive and constant presence in our lives each and every day, and were always so much fun. You are forever in our hearts.