Eugene and Olga Fetissoff

Yevgeny (Eugene) Iakovlevich Fetissoff (1908-1983)

and

Olga Petrovna Fetissoff (born Bochonko/Baluch) (1919-2020)

Yevgeny may be spelt Eugene, Yevgeniy, Evgeniy.

Fetissoff may be spelt Fetissov.

Jacob may be spelt Jakob, Iakov,

About “Harbin Russians”

(Background of Yevgeny Iakovlevich Fetissoff)

The first generation of “Harbin Russians” were mostly the builders and employees of the Chinese Eastern Railway. They moved to Harbin, Manchuria, in order to work on the railway. This work began in the 1890s. At that time, Harbin was not an established city. The city was almost built “from scratch” by the builders and early settlers. Houses were constructed, furniture and personal items were brought in from Russia. Then, after the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905, although many Russian-speakers left Harbin, many long-time residents decided to remain.

Providing a shortcut for the world’s longest railway, the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Eastern Railway (CER) (a single-track line), ran from near the city of Chita in Siberia, across northern inner Manchuria through Harbin to the Russian port of Vladivostok. This route drastically reduced the travel distance required along the originally proposed main northern route to Vladivostok. This northern route passed over Russian territory only ; but it was not completed until a decade after the Manchurian “shortcut” had been constructed.

In 1896, China granted a construction concession through northern Inner Manchuria under the supervision of the Vice-Minister of Public Works Xu Jingcheng. Work on the CER began in July, 1897, and it accelerated drastically after Russia concluded a 25-year lease of Liaodong from China in 1898. Officially, traffic on the line started in November, 1901, but regular passenger traffic from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok across the Trans-Siberian Railway did not commence until July, 1903.

Construction of Orthodox Christian Temples

As Harbin grew, several Russian Orthodox Temples were constructed. These included the Saint Sophia Cathedral ; the Temple of the Annunciation to the Theotokos ; the Saint Nicholas Cathedral ; the Iveron Icon Chapel ; the Saint Alexei Temple ; and the Temple of the Intercession of the Theotokos.

By 1913, Harbin had become an established Russian colony for the construction and maintenance work on the Chinese Eastern Railway. A record shows that Harbin had a total of 68,549 people, most of whom were of Russian and Chinese descent. There was a total of 53 different nationalities. Along with Russian and Chinese, there were 45 languages being spoken in Harbin at that time.

Times of war and revolution

During the decade from 1913 to 1923, Russia passed through World War I, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the Russian Civil War. In the 1920s, Harbin was flooded with between 100,000 to 200,000 Russian refugees fleeing from Russia. They were (for the most part) officers and soldiers involved in the White Movement, members of the White governments in Siberia, and the Russian Far East. There were both the intelligentsia and ordinary people. Harbin then had the largest Russian-speaking population outside the country of Russia.

Statelessness

Then, on 8 September, 1920, the Chinese Republic announced that it would no longer recognise the Russian Imperial consulates in China. On 23 September, China ceased relations with representatives of Imperial Russia who remained in China. It also deprived Russian citizens of extraterritorial rights. Overnight, Russian citizens in China found themselves to be stateless. Shortly after this, the Chinese government took over control of the institutions in Harbin such as courts, police, prison, post office, and some research and educational institutions.

Beginning of emigration

In 1924, an agreement was signed in Beijing regarding the control of the China Eastern Railway (CER). The agreement stated that only Soviet and Chinese citizens could be employed by the CER. This meant that the Harbin Russians had to choose not only their nationality, but also their political identity. The result was that some went to Soviet Russia ; others remained as Chinese citizens ; others emigrated as quickly as possible to Australia, North America and South America.

About Western Ukraine

(Background of Olga Petrovna (born Bochonko/Baluch) Fetissoff)

The history of Western Ukraine is different from the rest of the present territory of the country of Ukraine. Unlike the rest of Ukraine, most of Western Ukraine was never part of the Russian Empire. Rather, it had belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania).

The modern south-western part of Western Ukraine became a province of Austria-Hungary after the partitions of Poland. Its present administrative units are named after its own historical regions, instead of after their administrative centres. Przemyśl was a part of this first partition. Przemyśl is also less than 100 km west of Lviv.

About Yevgeny (Eugene) Iakovlevich Fetissoff

In 1908, Evgeny Iakovlevich Fetissoff was born in Harbin, Manchuria, Imperial China, to Iakov (Jacob) and Ustenia Fetissoff.

Jacob and Ustenia Fetissoff received from the Lord 5 children : 2 daughters (Faina and Xena), and 3 sons (Eugene, Boris, and Michael).

Jacob Fetissoff had moved from Russia to Harbin to work in his trade as a chartered accountant for the Trans-Siberian Railway, and he was in charge of the payroll.

Exile to Canada, 1927

In 1927, Jacob and Ustenia moved their family to Richmond, British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada. They arrived not long after the family of Anatole Portnoff. This move (for both families, and for many others) was a consequence mostly of the devastating effects of 1917 Russian Revolution, and the Civil War (1917-1923) which followed it.

Higher education

Eugene studied electricity at the University of British Columbia, while working as a carpenter.

Eugene was very involved with the Russian Orthodox Church. Together with other young Russian immigrants, he sang in Russian choirs and he helped to organise Russian dance recitals at various venues (including the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver). These events were organised in order to raise funds to build a Russian Orthodox Temple in Vancouver, British Columbia. Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church was constructed from 1928-1929 as a result of these efforts.

Also, being a skilled carpenter, Eugene constructed with his own hands much of the interior finishing woodwork, icon-stands, and iconostas in this Temple.

Eugene continued to work and to earn his living as a carpenter until he was enlisted with the Allied Forces in World War II.

Being fluent in several languages (including Russian, English, and Mandarin), Eugene was given the position of interpreter for the Allied Generals. Of note, Eugene interpreted in Berlin, Germany, for “The Supreme Commanders” on 5 June, 1945, including General Bernard Montgomery and General Georgy Zhukov.

Eugene’s brother Michael (Mike) was a bomber pilot, and he flew on regular missions over Nazi occupied Germany during World War II. The stress of this job, and being constantly shot at, caused him to lose large clumps of hair.

When he returned from the war, Eugene was given financial compensation from the Government of Canada for his service in the war effort. He used these funds to construct a building in Vancouver to house his new business, “Progressive Woodworks”.

In 1950, Eugene received a contract to build some cabinets for the “Parisian Ladies Dress Shop”. It was there that he met his soon-to-be wife Olga Bochonko.

About Olga Petrovna Bochonko/Baluch

On 29 September, 1919, Olga Bochonko/Baluch was born in Przemyśl in south-eastern Poland, to Peter and Anna Bochonko. Peter and Anna Bochonko received from the Lord 4 children : 3 daughters (Olga, Stephanie, and Ivana) and 1 son (Eugene). They also adopted a 5th child (Miroslava) when Olga was 17 years old.

Peter Bochonko was economically quite well off. He owned a brick factory and a sugar beet refinery, and he employed over 100 people.

Education and teaching career

After completing her education, Olga worked as a teacher of grade 3 and 4 students in Przemyśl.

Move to France, 1944

During the time of World War II, Olga received permission in 1944 to move to Metz, France (only professionals including teachers could get permission to move to cities in Nazi-occupied Europe). Thus, she left her family in Przemyśl, and she was not to know at the moment that her separation from them would be permanent. However, she was not able to return to visit her family because of the great political and other changes which took place at the conclusion of the war.

Exile, 1945

In 1945, Olga moved to Paris, France, and she took up employment as a seamstress. After World War II, a population exchange took place throughout much of Europe. Peter, and Anna Bochonko, together with their children Stephanie, Ivana, Eugene, and Miroslava, were forced to move from Poland to their native home of Lviv, Ukraine, not far east of where the Polish border was now delineated. They were stripped by the Polish government of their possessions, business, and property, and they arrived in Lviv in poverty.

Emigration to Canada, 1949

In 1949, Olga found it possible to emigrate to Vancouver, British Columbia. There, she opened a business, the “Parisian Ladies Dress Shop”, at West Avenue and Sasamat Street in the West Point Grey neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Marriage, 1950

In 1950, Olga’s business partner hired a cabinet-making company (“Progressive Woodworking”) to build some new cabinets in the shop. Eugene Fetissoff, the proprietor of that company, met Olga at this time. Within a year they were married.

Subsequently, the Lord gave to Eugene and Olga 2 children : Laresa and Peter.

Lives of work and Christian service

In 1952, Olga sold her shares in the “Parisian Ladies Dress Shop”. She took up her work as a mother and housewife, and she continued to raise their 2 children.

In 1955, Olga and Eugene moved into the new home which her husband Eugene constructed in Burnaby, British Columbia (just east of Vancouver). She and her husband raised their children. Olga lived in this home until 2016.

Eugene's family

Eugene’s sister Xena moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she worked as a nurse. However, Xena soon developed a brain tumour, and she moved back to Vancouver where she soon fell asleep in the Lord. Xena left behind her husband and her son Dwight.

Eugene’s other sister Faina was married also, and she had a daughter Clara (Cleopatra).

Eugene's activity

Eugene continued to be very involved in Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church. He served 3 times as the president of the parish council (which was known as the “Russian Orthodox Society of the City of Vancouver”) at Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church : in 1959-1961 ; in 1964-1966 ; and in 1971.

Photo of the Parish Council in 1966

At the same time, he sang in the tenor section of the parish choir, and in various Russian folk choirs in Vancouver, including the choir of his future son-in-law, Vadim Wright.

Parish choir

1969

Olga's activity

Olga Petrovna was extremely involved with Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church. Her home and her spiritual home, the Church, were organically united, as it were. She served as treasurer of the parish (the Russian Orthodox Society) for 25 years (1979-2004). She served as the president of the Ladies Auxiliary from 1964-1979. As she did so, she organised over 100 bazaars and fundraising events. She prepared multiple meals and activities for the parish.

Olga Petrovna used her skills as a seamstress to custom-make ecclesiastical vestments for the many bishops, priests, deacons, and acolytes (Altar-servers) who have served in Holy Resurrection Church. This also included making vestments for the Holy Table and other furniture. Olga Petrovna was constantly present at the Temple as she took care of many details and organised activities.

Sometimes Olga Petrovna would be jokingly teased about how visibly present she was on the premises.

In 1971, Eugene visited Russia for the first time, as a tourist in a tour-group.

Then, in 1978, Eugene was diagnosed as suffering from cancer. In the same year, he sold his business.

Repose of Eugene, 1983

On 30 November, 1983, Eugene Iakovlevich Fetissoff fell asleep in the Lord at Burnaby General Hospital.

On Sunday, 4 December, 1983, at 6:30 p.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered at Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor by Igumen Cyril (Bulashevitch).

On Monday, 5 December, 1983, at 9:00 a.m., the Memorial Divine Liturgy with Memorial Litya was served at Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor by Igumen Cyril (Bulashevitch).

After the funeral obsequies, the body of Eugene Iakovlevich was interred at the nearby Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

Besides his wife and children, Eugene Iakovlevich was survived by his sister Fay (Faina), and his brother Michael.

Life continues in widowhood

After the repose of her husband, nothing changed with regard to the commitment and activities of Olga Petrovna in the parish. She did, however, begin to have a visibly more difficult time accomplishing all that she was motivated by love and responsibility to do. Her arthritis continued to become more and more painful. All the while, she continued to be present with her dedicated love, labour and sense of humour.

Ordination of grandson Gregory Vadim Wright, 2009

On 13 September, 2009, their grandson Gregory Wright was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in the Temple of Saint Herman of Alaska in Langley, British Columbia, where he was assigned to serve as the second deacon.

In 2016, Olga Petrovna moved to live with her daughter Laresa in Port Coquitlam (to the east of New Westminster and Coquitlam, that is, 2 cities just to the east of Vancouver and Burnaby). This move was the result of the increasing difficulty that Olga Petrovna had to live on her own.

Olga Petrovna continued to be busy and active in her increasing age, as a dedicated and loving mother to Laresa Wright and Peter Fetissoff ; grandmother to Deacon Gregory Wright, Veronica Wright, and Jeffery Fetissoff ; and great-grandmother to Natalia and Alexander Wright and Tatiana Maraffa..

In 2019, Olga Petrovna celebrated the 100th anniversary of her birthday. She was fêted both by her own family and by members of her parish family.

Shortly afterwards, Olga Petrovna undertook yet another major step. She moved into an assisted-living residence just off Kingsway Avenue in Burnaby. This residence enabled her to live on her own in a small apartment, to be provided with 3 meals a day and also to be able to have some personal assistance. Olga continued to be as she always had been : bright, alert, aware of current events in her family, her parish, and in the world. Despite suffering from several maladies, she remained in contact with her parish family. Her parish priest since 1999, Father Michael Fourik, continued to bring Holy Communion to her on a regular basis.

Olga Petrovna Fetissoff at 100

Repose of Olga Petrovna, 2020

On Monday, 5 October, 2020, a week after her 101st birthday, Olga Petrovna Fetissova fell asleep in the Lord in Vancouver, British Columbia.

On Wednesday, 7 October, 2020, at 6:30 p.m., a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was served at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Vancouver by the Mitred Archpriest Michael Fourik and Deacon Gregory V Wright.

On Thursday, 8 October, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was served at Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Vancouver by the Mitred Archpriest Michael Fourik and Deacon Gregory Wright.

After the completion of the funeral obsequie, the body of Olga Petrovna Fetissoff was interred beside that of her husband in the Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver (near Holy Resurrection Sobor).

Olga Petrovna

Reflections

Both Eugene Iakovlevich and Olga Petrovna Fetissoff were Orthodox Christians who always kept the service of Christ as the main priority of their personal lives and of their married life. They had naturally come to know and love the Lord through their family formations, and through their regular presence at worship in the Orthodox Christian Temple of whatever place in which they lived. For this reason, when they arrived in Vancouver, nothing changed for them. In accordance with their personal gifts, they supported, worked for, and cared for the spiritual and physical fabric of the parish in which they worshipped and prayed.

Olga Petrovna worked diligently in the sisterhood of the parish, and she was constantly making sure that things were in order in the Temple. During her days, flowers were present in specially-designed glass holders which would be hung on the iconostas on greater feast-days. She would often work long hours in the office, or in the Temple, in order to be certain that all the affairs for which she was responsible were in order. She would often drive home quite late in the evening. Such was her care that she continued to be active in these ways rather longer that she ought. However, she did not complain. Her sense of responsibility prevailed ; and when she was physically unable to be present in the Temple, she never stopped loving or caring about her parish and her parish family, and she was always asking about how things were.

At the time of her repose, Olga Petrovna Fetissoff left behind to pray for her, her children Laresa Wright (David) and Peter Fetissoff (Diane) ; her grandchildren Gregory Wright (Ana), Veronica Marraffa (Michael), and Jeffery Fetissoff ; and her great-grandchildren Natalia Szymczak (Adam), Alexander Wright, and Tatiana Marraffa.

3 views of the grave-marker