Elizabeth was born in Zalantun, Mongolia, March 6, 1922. At that time Mongolia was part of China. Her parents were Russians who worked on the railroads of the region. Her parents were Piotr and Nadejda Salischev. Later the family moved to Harbin, an important city in northern China.
Elizabeth graduated from the school of Business Administration offered by North Manchurian University: Manchu-Digo, Harbin. At a social function she met John Zadorojny, an engineer. The couple married in 1942 in China. On March 18, 1943 in Tientsin, their daughter, Irene, was born. And on March 2, 1947 their son, Constantin.
When the communist insurgents took control of China in 1948, the family emigrated to Argentina. On June 8, 1948, the family arrived in Buenos Aires, the cosmopolitan capital of Argentina. Thanks to his engineering credentials, John Zadorojny was hired to work on a variety of engineering projects in rapidly developing Patagonia.
The family made their home in Comodoro Rivadavia, the oil capital of the country. Elizabeth learned Spanish and enrolled in the Red Cross Nursing Program. When she graduated as a Registered Nurse, she was hired to work at a local hospital.
In 1955 the president of Argentina, Juan Domingo Peron, was overthrown and political uncertainty rocked the country. Unstable civilian governments and concern about their children's future led the family once more to emigrate. This time to the United States. The family settled in Seattle, Washington. Elizabeth brushed up on her English, validated her nursing credentials, and proceeded to work as an RN at various Seattle hospitals. Years later after retiring from nursing, she worked as a medical interpreter. When the Russian consulate put on a cultural and historical exhibition (Treasures of the Kremlin) in Seattle, she acted as an interpreter.
Elizabeth's daughter, Irene, and son, Constantin, both married. Eventually Elizabeth was rewarded with two granddaughters and five grandsons. In time Elizabeth would come to have four great-granddaughters. The most recent news is that another great-grandchild is on the way.
The last years of her life were spent in Coral Springs Residential Care in Salem. Both the management and the care providers were extremely helpful in providing for her health and personal needs.
A special thanks to the staff of the Providence Benedictine Hospice that provided additional care during the last few months, when Elizabeth suffered numerous health crises. She passed away of natural causes in the evening of September 19, 2020. Shortly after she died her grandson’s family came to visit her, and her middle school great-granddaughter left the beautiful note: “Happy heaven day, Babushka.”
A final funeral service was held at Golden's Mortuary (Salem, Oregon). Only family members could attend due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She was laid to rest, next to her husband John Zadorojny at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery, Seattle, Washington.
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