Galina Ojiguine

Galina was a kind, honest, compassionate, and responsible person. She was loved and respected by everyone who knew her, and she was always eager to help.

Galina was born in Leningrad in 1936 to Olga and Girsh. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, she was 5 years old. For the next 7 months of hunger and cold, she lived in the besieged city of Leningrad.

In the early spring of 1942, she was evacuated along with her grandmother Claudia, her aunt Lusia, and her cousin Nina. They were transported in a truck across the frozen Lake Laduga.

After their arrival at Kobona, they were put on a train to Perm. On the way to Perm, her grandmother fell ill with typhus and was removed from the train. They were later reunited in Perm thanks to the strength and determination of her aunt Alya.

Galina lived in Perm until the liberation of Leningrad in 1944. When Leningrad was liberated, Galina went back and reunited with the rest of the family and her mother, who remained in the city throughout the siege. Unfortunately, not all members of the family survived, and some passed away. Among them was her father, Girsh, who was killed in action while defending Leningrad.

After the war ended, her mother married another man, Ivan, soon her sister Natasha was born.

Galina's stepfather played a very big role in her life. She lived in a very supportive and loving family.

In 1944, Galina began her education. She finished school with a silver medal in 1957 and entered the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute for metallurgical chemistry. There she met her future husband, Vasyli whom she married after her graduation in 1961. They lived in a loving relationship until he passed away in the year 2000.

After completing her education as an engineer, Galina was sent to the Arsenal plant, where she worked until her retirement, first as a workshop foreman, then in a chemical laboratory, and finally as the head of the central laboratory. She was proud to be part of a large team that developed the first Soviet spaceship.

Galina was loved and respected by colleagues for her knowledge and high moral standards.

Galina was a loving mother of two daughters, Anna and Katya, sister of Natasha, aunt of Denis and Irena, grandmother of Lena, Ivan, Michal, Adi and Leva and a great grandmother of Tali. She will be remembered and missed for her dedication and love for her family.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kanejerrettnorthyork.ca for the Ojiguine family.