VOTH, Sonia Lesia (Lassie) (nee Sharik)
May 13, 1928 - February 6, 2020
Lassie was born in Edmonton, the only child of William and Lena Sharik. Her father and maternal grandfather died in 1937, and she and her mother and grandmother moved out west in 1941. To Lassie, Vancouver was heaven. She expressed her gratitude for her mother’s decision well after other memories began fading.
Lassie graduated Senior Matriculation in 1946, from King George High School. In 1949 she married John Voth and a wonderful seventy year partnership ensued. The early years of their marriage had their challenges, with John making the long trek from a grade eight education to high school shop teacher. Lassie was a constant support tutoring John on the finer points of English, while working and raising children.
Later, it was Lassie’s turn for schooling, and she completed the Douglas College Interior Design program. With her design skills and John’s industrial arts background they formed Voth House Remodeling in 1980, after John’s retirement from teaching. Over the next ten years they enjoyed working together, completing a variety of projects.
Lassie worked tirelessly to make the world a better place, through her involvement with the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church, writing countless letters for Amnesty International, being an early proponent of recycling, teaching English to young mothers newly arrived to Canada, and later writing and performing protest songs with the Raging Grannies.
A lover of the arts and culture, she supported many local groups from Theatre Under the Stars to the Vancouver Symphony and Vancouver Opera. Playing her guitar and singing, she led many a sing-along session well into the wee hours.
Lassie was also a great lover of the outdoors, and she took every opportunity for a walk or hike, including trekking in the Himalayas. At her beloved Paul Lake Cabin, hikes up to the Red Rock were a given.
An avid reader and seeker of knowledge, she later delved into her Ukrainian roots by taking Ukrainian language classes, and translating a relative’s book about early Ukrainian immigration to Canada.
Lassie was diagnosed with dementia seventeen years ago, but thankfully she continued to enjoy life and remained her gracious self, right to the end. Lesia is survived by John, her husband of 70 years, her children Brian (Martha), Naomi (Rob), and Allison (Richard), her grandchildren Jonathan, Sonia, and Naomi (John), and her great-grandchildren Sladen and Sable.
Lassie was a beautiful, vibrant, feisty, and compassionate woman, and she will be sorely missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, March 13, 2020, 2 p.m., at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, 949 W. 49th Ave. Vancouver, BC. Donations to the Alzheimer Society of BC would be appreciated.