Tribute

    Katie Derhousoff

           1936 – 2016

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the heart and soul of our family, Katie Derhousoff.

With loving members of her family at her side, Katie passed peacefully on April 6, 2016, at the Kootenay Lake District Hospital, in Nelson, BC.

She was born Kate Edward Antifaeff, on July 27, 1936, in Glade, BC to Edward Peter Antifaeff, and his wife, Helen (Wasilenkoff) Antifaeff, both of  Blewett, BC.

Raised in Blewett with her two brothers, and one sister, Katie often spoke of her happy childhood where she learned the importance of hard work, love of family, and keeping with family beliefs and traditions.

On March 5, 1955, she married the love of her life, John Derhousoff. Together, they also made their home in Blewett where they raised two daughters, Marlene and Joyce, and their son John.

Katie was famous for welcoming everyone into her home. Her many visitors never left hungry. She loved to garden and harvest her many fruits and vegetables for both canning and her delicious homemade meals and desserts. She always had a fridge full of borsht and other delicious foods.

The most important thing in Katie’s life was her family.  Along with her own three children, she and John were blessed with three grandchildren, which she help raise, and later three great-grandchildren. To each, she was the best Baba ever. She often baby sat those who lived nearby and never got tired of telling stories about what she and the little ones were doing all day long. She was so thankful that she was part of their lives.

In 1989, however, tragedy struck as Katie and John’s youngest child, 25 year old John Derhousoff Jr., went missing, never to seen or heard from again. She often said her life was never the same after that day, always wondering, and never truly knowing, what had really happened to her young son.

Katie liked to sew, knit, and crochet. She would often give away her various creations as gifts during the Christmas holidays and for birthdays. Also, Katie loved playing the accordion, which she had been playing since she was a young girl. Family members, on their special day, would always look forward to hearing her play the “Happy Birthday” song.

Katie was preceded in death by both of her parents, Edward and Helen Antifaeff, by her loving husband John, by her brother Mike Antifaeff and his wife Elizabeth, by her sister Helen (Antifaeff) Tagami and her husband Suyeo, and by her brother John Antifaeff and his wife Leda.

Katie is survived by her daughter Marlene Derhousoff, of Blewett, and by Marlene’s partner in life, Ed Argatoff, of Shoreacres, BC, and by Katie’s daughter Joyce {Derhousoff} Tucker, of Deer Park, Washington, and her husband Dan Tucker, and by her special friend Bill.

Katie is also survived by her three Grandsons (Joyce’s Sons), and by their children, Katie’s three Great-Grandchildren.  They are Jason Nazaroff of Bonnington, BC, his wife Patty, and their sons Mason and Carter, Mark Nazaroff, and his partner in life, Jessica Litt, both of Kelowna, BC, and Kevin Nazaroff of Surrey, BC, his wife Samantha, and their daughter Claire Katie. Additionally, Katie is survived by her many cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives, as well as her many friends and neighbors.

Katie fought a courageous battle with thyroid cancer for over 15 years. The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses, and staff at The Kootenay Lake District Hospital, in Nelson, the Home and Community Care Nurses (Blue Team, including Margo – now retired), the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail, and the BC Cancer Center in Kelowna, all of whom took such good care of Katie over the years.

In the summer of 2015, Katie’s health had declined to where she had to leave her beloved home in Blewett. We would also like to send our appreciation and thanks to the staff of the Mountain Lakes Assisted Living Community in Nelson for their tireless care and support.

Services will be held for Katie on April 12, 2016, at the Thompson Funeral Chapel in Nelson, BC.  Afterward, she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband John at the Doukhobor Cemetery in Shoreacres, BC. 

The family asks that donations be made in Katie’s name to the Canadian Cancer Society.