Ann Zaitzeff

It is with great sadness that the family of Ann Zaitzeff announces her death on October 25, 2009, following a struggle with pneumonia. Ann lived a very full life and will be remembered with great fondness and many warm memories by all who knew her. Ann was happy, cheerful, always positive and walked the halls of Bethammi Nursing Home with a smile on her face until the very end. Those who knew her will remember her kindness and soft-spoken, polite manner. Ann Kobetsky was born on January 1, 1917 in Manchuria, China, to Russian parents who had six children, three brothers and two sisters, all of whom have predeceased Ann. Ann was educated at a private high school in Harbin, China. Ann's father was a merchant entrepreneur in China, owning a vodka distillery in Harbin. Ann and her sister, Stella, moved to Shanghai, China at an early age. The Kobetsky sisters started a dress salon and eventually had fifteen employees. Their clients included people from the diplomatic circle of Shanghai. It was in Shanghai during the middle of the Second World War that she met her future husband, Victor Zaitzeff. Victor, while going to medical school, became close friends with Stella Kobetsky's son, Leonard Lavrin. Victor and Len were both medical students and of course, the Kobetsky sisters looked after them as best they could in war-torn China. Ann supported Victor and helped him get through medical school in China. They were married August 25, 1947, and their son, Alexander, (Sandy) was born February 19, 1949, in China. At that time, China was still war-torn as the Chinese Revolution was ongoing. Ann ran her dress shop with her sister, Stella, until the Zaitzeffs immigrated to Canada on September 10, 1951. Victor, in the meantime, had graduated from medical school and was the Medical Officer to the United Nations in Shanghai. The Zaitzeffs were allowed to leave China with $25.00 each and two Chinese rugs. The communists had confiscated all the real estate holdings, business holdings and indeed, everything that the Zaitzeff and Kobetsky families had accumulated during their time in China. Ann and Victor were excited and happy to be leaving the grim reality of 1951 communist China and starting a fresh life in Canada. Victor and Ann believed that they left China with their best assets intact being Victor's education and Ann's seamstress skills. The Zaitzeff family first moved to Vancouver and then to Winnipeg, Manitoba as Victor had to re-qualify for his medical license in Canada. Victor worked as an intern at St. Boniface Hospital and Ann worked as a seamstress for a surgical supply company, Fisher and Burp. Ann said, "It was so nice there, but I spoiled yards of material learning. " Victor, of course, passed his medical examinations and obtained employment at the Port Arthur Clinic in May, 1953. At this juncture in her life, Ann became a domestic engineer, being wife to Victor and mother to Sandy. Victor was an extremely busy doctor and so Ann made sure that Sandy participated in as many sports to which she could take him. Ann was an active volunteer with the Ladies' Auxiliary for St. Joseph's Hospital and the Port Arthur General Hospital. Ann loved to play bridge and played as much bridge as she possibly could. Ann was a consummate hostess, loved cooking and passed along her love of cooking and the art of entertaining family and friends to her husband, Victor, her deceased daughter-in-law, Marilyn, and her grandson, Victor Alexander (Sandy). Her grandson, Sandy, has a business degree from Lakehead University and was just last week awarded a three year scholarship to the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California, to commence studies in January, 2010. Sandy watched Grandma cook almost from the day he was born as both of his parents worked full-time and Ann cared for young Sandy. Ann loved the family cottage and sauna at Amethyst Harbour where the family spent many happy summers. Ann is survived by her son, Sandy Sr. and her grandson, Sandy Jr. Ann was predeceased by her husband, Victor, who died June 16, 2007. Her son, Sandy Sr. has been a lawyer in Thunder Bay for 35 years. The family wishes to thank Dr. F. Bone and the nurses and staff of Bethammi Nursing Home for their excellent kind and compassionate care extended to Ann over the last two and one-half years, and especially during this very difficult struggle with pneumonia. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel at Bethammi Nursing Home. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in her name to St. Joseph's Foundation of Thunder Bay, 63 Carrie Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 4J2. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com Arrangements entrusted to the Sargent & Son Funeral Home, 21 N. Court Street."