Lora Markovna Polevaya

Lora Markovna Polevaya
Born September 6, 1938, in Aktyubinsk, Soviet Union (now Aktobe, Kazakhstan)
Passed away peacefully on August 5, 2025, in Portland, Oregon, USA.
From a Horse and Cart to a MacBook
The daughter of Iraida Gerasimovna Shabashova and Mark Philippovich Polevoy, Lora was born on September 6, 1938, in Aktyubinsk, Soviet Union (now Aktobe, Kazakhstan). She outlived the country of her birth, emigrating to the United States in 2004 to join her daughter Elena, and Elena's family.
Her early years were spent in Aktyubinsk until 1942, when her parents took her and her sister Inna to live in a Siberian city of Stalinsk (presently Novokuznetsk). Lora's father served as the Head of the Construction Department at the Stalinsk Aluminum Plant (currently Novokuznetsk Aluminum Plant). Lora began her education there, traveling to kindergarten in a horse-drawn cart - an experience that gave her a lifelong appreciation for a warm blanket and a hand muff. In 1944, near the end of WWII, the family moved to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she would live for the next 60 years.
Lora often spoke with deep gratitude for the people of Tashkent, who welcomed and supported countless war evacuees. Despite the hardships of the postwar years, she cherished memories of her childhood and youth in their Tashkent home. Her family survived the devastating earthquake of 1966 - a story she later told with her signature mix of drama and humor.
She earned her first degree in electrical and communication engineering from Tashkent Polytechnical College and began working as a sound recording engineer at the Tashkent Recording and Record Manufacturing Studio. Soon after, her path shifted to the theater arts when she was accepted into the Tashkent Theater and Fine Arts Institute, studying theater directing under Aleksandr Ginsburg. Upon graduation, she worked at the Tashkent State Theater for Young Spectators. In 1965, she married Aleksandr Serebryanik, a talented classical conductor, and welcomed their daughter in 1967.
Lora's career took her to Yakutsk, Russia, where she directed at the Yakutsk State Drama Theater, while her husband played a prominent role in establishing the Yakutsk State Opera and Ballet House. These years in the subarctic city brought creative exploration, lifelong friendships, and unforgettable memories. Returning to Tashkent in 1974, Lora devoted herself to motherhood, filling her home with warmth, laughter, friends, and the occasional impromptu performance. Smart, funny, outspoken, strong willed and very beautiful, Lora often joked that she aspired to the elegance and charm of Sophia Loren.
In 1981, following her divorce, she became assistant director at the Animation Film Studios of Uzbekfilm, the largest and oldest film studio in Uzbekistan. She worked on such cartoons as Magic Chamois / (1980), The Tale of the Magic Pomegranate / (1982), and The Helpers / (1985). These and other animation films she directed and co–directed became part of cherished childhood memories for many.
Lora loved to travel and passed this passion to her daughter-exploring destinations from the Black Sea to Lake Baikal, and later to the Pacific Ocean, exploring the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Canada. Music was another joy-she loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. A lifelong reader, she preferred books to screens, though she embraced her Mac–Book with surprising enthusiasm. The fact that she went from riding to kindergarten in a horse cart to chatting with friends via Skype and WhatsApp delighted many. Lora loved gardening and loved flowers, especially white ones. An avid gardener, she created spectacular flower beds in the backyard of her California home, where she lived for five years. Her Beaverton apartment was filled with houseplants, and there was always a bouquet of fresh flowers on her dining table.
Lora loved children and had a special gift for connecting with them. She took genuine delight in their company and often became the "fun adult" at any gathering. Many of Elena's school friends remember her with great affection, recalling her warmth, humor, and the way she always made them feel welcome.
Although suffering from terminal renal disease for many years, Lora's spirit was always high. Her passing came as a great shock to all who knew and loved her. Lora is survived by her daughter Elena Bell, son-in-law Robert Bell, grandsons Aleksandr and Andrei, cousins Olga Polevaya and Tatiana Shwab, and extended family across the U.S., Russia, Ukraine, Romania, and Germany.
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Viewing
11:30 AM – 12:10 PM Russian Orthodox Trisagion Service (Father Boris)
Arranged by Springer & Son Aloha Funeral Home
4150 SW 185th Ave. Beaverton
(Parking is from 184th Ave)
Wednesday, August 13th, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Russian Orthodox Memorial Service at the Gravesite (Father Boris)
and burial.
Crescent Grove Cemetery
9925 SW Greenburg Road Tigard