June 21, 1930 - May 21, 2019
Molly Almaas, age 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on May 21, 2019, in Grand Forks, BC.
Molly was born June 21, 1930, and spent her younger years living and working in the Kootenay region. In 1956, Molly married Ole Almaas and settled in Salmo, BC, where she lived for 61 years. Molly was an active and contributing member of the village. She was a Lady Lion, member of the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary, and a founding member of the Salmo Flower Club. Her love for her community showed in the many hours spent planting and watering the hanging baskets that you still see in Salmo today.
Molly will be most remembered as an avid gardener and baker. Her flowers and vegetable gardens were a legend in Salmo, with many wedding photos taken on her beautiful property. Her cakes were exquisite and intricate, and her squares and cookies were loved by her family and many in the community lucky enough to get a batch at Christmas. Her biggest passion, though, was her family. Her husband Ole and their son James were her world. James and Rebecca (Stephens) gave them two grandchildren, Meghan and Peter, who spent many summers helping Grandma with her garden. Molly was so proud of everything her son and grandchildren accomplished.
Molly was a strong, kind, and hardworking woman who never failed to remind you that "what goes around, comes around." She took great pride in her garden, working from sunrise to sundown (and sometimes later than that) tending to her flowers, vegetables, and fruit. She was even known to scare away a bear or two who got too close to her berries, or her kitchen. She made the very best borscht, dill pickles, coffee pie, black forest cake, fruit tarts, molasses cookies, and cinnamon rolls, and never stopped trying new recipes. She was also a talented crocheter and her beautiful tablecloths will be treasured by her family for years to come.
After Ole passed in 2002, Molly carried on with her garden and was even mowing her own lawn well into her 80s. Many thanks go to the people of Salmo who helped her stay in her home as long as she could: neighbours Lisa and Jared Grant, Tom and Lyn Webb, Duncan and the staff at Peoples Drug Mart, the staff at Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Tamara Thiemann and the ladies who gave Molly excellent home care, and many others that kept an eye on her and made sure she was safe. Thank you also to the staff at The Silver Kettle Village in Grand Forks for treating Molly with dignity and respect, and making her at home and comfortable in her final years.
Molly was predeceased by her husband Ole, parents Jim and Nastia Gritchen, brothers Alex and Nick, sister Florence Chernoff, and several beloved nieces and nephews. Molly's legacy continues in the lives of her son, James, daughter-in-law Rebecca, grandson Peter, and granddaughter Meghan (Duke) Hunt.
Molly's life will be celebrated by her family on her birthday, June 21, in Salmo.