Louise Ann Barbonoff

Louise Ann Barbonoff (Samiroden), affectionately known as Luba, passed away on March 6, 2026. Born on June 29, 1936, in the village of Slavanka, Saskatchewan, she was raised on the family farm in the Haralowka district near Blaine Lake. She attended Haralowka School for grades one through nine and completed high school at Blaine Lake High School.

In 1954, Louise moved to Saskatoon to pursue nursing at the University of Saskatchewan. She was among the first students to live in residence at the newly built Ellis Hall and graduated in 1957 as part of the university’s inaugural nursing class. She began her career at University Hospital in Saskatoon before moving to San Jose, California, where she worked as a charge nurse at San Jose General Hospital. While in California she became engaged to Jim Barbonoff. The couple married on July 10, 1959, and settled in Saskatoon to build their home and raise their family.

Louise enjoyed a long and dedicated nursing career that spanned several areas, including head nurse in a nursing home, the Intensive Care Nursery at Royal University Hospital, various hospital wards, and finally as a private duty palliative care nurse with the Nightingale Nursing Group. She took particular joy in caring for newborns and found deep meaning in supporting patients and families at the end of life. Known for her compassion, professionalism, and willingness to work long hours and night shifts, she remained close to her nursing classmates and regularly attended alumni reunions, including their 60th.

Above all, Louise cherished her family. She was a proud and involved mother who supported her daughters through baton and dance, sewing costumes and attending competitions while balancing her career. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. She loved gardening, flower arranging, crafting, sewing, knitting, and crocheting, and each spring she looked forward to working at the greenhouse. Louise and Jim’s happiest place was their cabin at Martins Lake, where they spent many summers surrounded by family and friends.

Louise was predeceased by her parents, Nick and Anne Samiroden, her husband Jim, her sister Shirley Onishenko, and her brother Lawrence. She will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Charlene and Shannon (Darryl Lamoureux), her grandchildren Breeanna (Josef Lywak), Tyler, Jasmine, and Mischa, her great-granddaughter Nola, as well as her nieces, nephews, cousins, many friends, and all those whose lives she touched with her kindness and care.