Maria Tron

Maria Tron (nee: Lasar) of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late Alexander Tron passed away peacefully after a long and fulfilling life on Friday, June 3, 2022.

Maria (Mom) was born in Ukraine in 1927. One of five siblings, she had three older sisters and a younger brother. Mom and her siblings began their lives with wonder and joy on the steppes of Ukraine with parents who adored them, provided for them, and encouraged them to strive for the best. However, within a few years, they suffered through one of the greatest man-made famines in human history: The Holodomor (death by hunger in Ukrainian). Between 1932 and 1933, millions of Ukrainians died of starvation. However, due to the grit and determination of mom's parents, she and her siblings survived the winter on one secretly buried bag of potatoes and boiled grass for soup.

Later, Mom and her family were forced to flee their beloved Ukraine home during World War II as the Russian army advanced. Her beloved father died of tuberculosis because of his help to a fallen and wounded Ukrainian soldier. They had no choice but to bury their father with honour along the roadside and continue their journey to safety. Mom along with her mother and brother eventually immigrated to Canada to start a new life in Lethbridge.

In Lethbridge, Mom married Dad (Alexander Tron), who had also immigrated to Canada from Ukraine. Together, they gave their children a better life by making many sacrifices. Mom emphasized the importance of education to her late husband, believing that their childhood hardships in Ukraine could be overcome through education. They raised four children together, focusing on their well-being and encouraging them to pursue higher education. Their children work in medicine, law, finance, and the nonprofit sector. Mom was very proud of her children and the guidance she gave them.

Mom lived her life with joy, despite her hardships as a child. She was always grateful for her life in Canada, never taking it for granted. She had a sharp wit with a mischievous smile that made those around her laugh out loud. She had an extraordinary mind, astonishing others with how she could do complex math without using a calculator. (She also encouraged her children to do the same! Many shopping trips were delayed as one of her young children tried to figure out a percentage discount on a wanted purchase.)   She was an accomplished cook and an even better baker. And her garden, both the vegetables and flowers, were the envy of her neighbours. Her green thumb was legendary; she was renowned for growing plants from a single stem or seed. She was simply one of a kind.

Mom is survived by her son Victor (Susan Braithwaite) – grandchildren, Sarah (Ken Seeback) – great-grandchildren, Max and Oliver, David and Kirsten (Neuendorff), Christopher (Paloma van Groll); son Lanny (Terry Willner) – grandchildren, Alexander, Katianna (Derek Sokol) and Marika; daughter Sonia Attkiss – grandchildren, Nicholas, Sophie, and Luke; daughter Kathy (Dave) Greenwood – grandchildren, Jack, and Tessa, brother-in-law John Tron (late Victoria Burstynsky) as well as numerous loving nieces and nephews both here and in Ukraine. She is predeceased by her late husband Alexander Tron, mother Venna Lasar, father-in-law Andrew Tron, mother-in-law Motra Tron, sister Paula Czyznski, brother Nicholas Lasar, brother-in-law Roman Czyznski and many dear family members in Ukraine.

For those who wish to pay their respects, a visitation will be held at 5:00 p.m. followed by Prayers at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Christensen Salmon Generations Funeral Home, Lethbridge.

The Funeral Rite will be celebrated by the Rev. Fr. Dr. Timothy Chrapko at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Lethbridge at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday June 9, 2022 - 643 13 St N.

Interment to follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Lethbridge.

 If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Maria and Alexander Tron Endowed Scholarship at the University of Lethbridge

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