Leda Evanovna Taradonova

Longtime Kenai resident Leda Evanovna Shadura Schmidt Taradonova, passed away Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna. She was 93.
A panikhida service will be 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai. Funeral services will be held in Seattle, Wash. and she will be buried at Evergreen-Washelli Cemetery in Seattle.
She was born in Vladivostok, Russia on March 14, 1920. Leda fled from Russia to Japan and finally arrived in Seattle were she attended school graduating from the Seattle Business University in 1943. She met Alexander Shadura and traveled to Seldovia then homesteaded in the Kalifonsky Beach area. She setnetted for many years where in latter years married Robert Schmidt who together were part owners of a fish processing plant.
Leda continued to contribute to the community for decades. She was one of the first Democratic party treasures after statehood, helped the community in establishing medical care and as a translator for the Russian community in several social service capacities. A devote member of the Russian Orthodox Church, she volunteered for many as a service to the church where she also was received recognition from the Bishop of Alaska as a servant of the faith and a member of the church.
Leda enjoyed music embroidery and cooking.
Many will remember Leda as a giving and sharing person who was always there to help others in need. Our families will miss her warm heart and wonderful love that she so selflessly shared with all that came to know her. Please share in our prayers and remember Leda as the energetic person who enjoyed life, cherished her family and gave sunshine to all that were lucky to have known her.
Leda was preceded in death by her previous husbands, Alexander Shadura and Robert Schmidt, her mother, Olga Hettel, and brothers, John Taradonova and Edward Hettel.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Paul II and Virginia Shadura, and their children, Paul III and Christina Shadura, all of Kenai; daughter, Natalia Potebnya-Shadura, her daughter, Nicole Potebnya, and Nicole's son, William, all of Olympia; daughter and son-in-law, Tamara and Lonnie O'Neal of Bellingham, Wash., and their daughter Katie O'Neal of San Diego, Calif.; and daughter and son-in-law, Leda and Robert Barnes and their children, John, Sasha and Joseph Barnes, all of Olympia, Wash.
Condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 3084, Kenai, AK 99611
Arrangements are with Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.