Osvobozhdeniye Cemetery – Pelly District, Saskatchewan

The following is a transcription of the Osvobozhdeniye Doukhobor Cemetery located 8 miles northeast of Pelly, Saskatchewan. Rural Municipality of Livingston No. 331. Land location: SW 7-34-31 West of First. Latitude: 51°53.740. Longitude: 101°50.972. Transcribed by Jonathan J. Kalmakoff with Fred Petroff and George Negrave on September 2, 2006.

View of the cemetery from the south facing north.

Historical Background

Osvobozhdeniye Cemetery was established in 1899 by the Doukhobors of Osvobozhdeniye village near Pelly. After the abandonment of the village in 1917, the cemetery continued to be used by local Doukhobors until the 1990’s. It is no longer in active use and is badly overgrown. It is privately owned.  

Layout

The cemetery is approximately one acre in size and is enclosed by a wire fence. There is dense scrub and brush throughout. The cemetery contains approximately 115 interments in a single section comprised of 8 rows facing east-west. The vast majority of graves (98) have no marker, however, many of the mounds are still clearly visible. I have used death certificates to identify fifteen of these. The remaining unmarked graves are unidentified. With respect to graves with markers, the markers are typically plain, upright marble or slate headstones. Click here for an online cemetery map.

Driving Directions

To access the cemetery from Pelly, travel north from the junction of Highway No. 49 and the Village of Pelly Exit on gravel Secondary Route No. 661 for 4 miles (6.4 km). Then turn east and continue on the grid road for 4 miles (6.4 km). To access the cemetery from Arran, travel north from the junction of Highway No. 49 and the Village of Arran Exit on the gravel road for 2 miles (3.2 km). Then turn west and continue for 5 miles (8.0 km).  In either case, then turn south on the grid road and continue for 1 mile (1.6 km). The cemetery is 1/2 mile (.8 km) west of the grid road, across a 1/4 section, in the southeast corner of the adjoining 1/4 section.  It can only be accessed by crossing a cultivated field. This cemetery is on private property and permission to access should be obtained by the owners.

Transcription

Surname Name Birth Date Death Date Comments
Bartsoff Mike S. 1877 Aug. 7, 1923 No Marker
Bloudoff John A. 1889 Mar. 28, 1928 Died – age 39 years
Chernenkoff George W. 1868 Jan. 24, 1946 No Marker
Chernenkoff Ivan G. Died – age 74 years
Chernenkoff Nastia T. 1882 Apr. 27, 1937 Nee Strelaeff – No Marker
Chutskoff Mary 1852 Mar. 5, 1943 No Marker
Efonoff Eli 1858 Nov. 24, 1938 No Marker
Efonoff John N. 1861 Mar. 1, 1937 Died – age 75 years – No Marker
Gritchin * Alexei P. May 1, 1889 Apr. 7, 1939
Kabatoff Nancy W. 1884 Aug. 5, 1941 Nee Holoboff – No Marker
Kondratoff Johnny Jun. 20, 1948  
Kondratoff Joseph Jun. 20, 1948
Legebokoff * Anna A. 1899 1940 Nee Kolesnikoff
Legebokoff Arina F. 1873 1931  
Legebokoff * Arina W. 1903 Nov. 14, 1944  
Legebokoff George 1921 1995  
Legebokoff George D. Mar. 12, 1881 Apr. 23, 1930 No Marker
Legebokoff Harry W. Dec. 1, 1926 Aug. 21, 1935  
Legebokoff Maria D.  
Legebokoff * Pelagea A. 1885 Jun. 16, 1926  
Legebokoff Polly A. 1866 Nov. 25, 1934 Nee Vanin – No Marker
Legebokoff William G. 1905 1971  
Markin Steve N. 1892 Apr. 30, 1928 No Marker
Popoff Annie G. 1908 Sep. 24, 1934 Nee Kinakin – No Marker
Rezansoff * Arina P. 1884 Mar. 26, 1932 Died – age 48 years
Strukoff Freddy Mar. 7, 1943  
Strukoff Verginia Aug. 17, 1937  
Vanin Bill F. 1891 1950
Vanin Kuzma F. Mar. 1865 Apr. 1, 1946 No Marker
Vanin Molly W. 1864 Jan. 12, 1936 Nee Legebokoff – No Marker
Woiken Luska N. 1869 Sep. 1, 1944 Nee Halishoff – No Marker
Woytkiw Mike B. Jan. 10, 1930 May 21, 1930 No Marker

*Translated from Russian.

In addition, the following families resided in Osvobozhdeniye village and may have members buried in Osvobozhdeniye Cemetery: Argatoff, Barabanoff, Berikoff, Gritchin, Legebokoff, Malakoff, Matrosoff, Saprikin, Tarasoff, Vanin, Voykin, Wishloff, Zharikoff.

View of the cemetery from the east facing west.

One of the few remaining wooden markers at the cemetery

Notes

Various sources of data have been used in compiling this information including: marker transcriptions and death certificates. This is a work in progress. If readers have any comments, corrections or additions with respect to Osvobozhdeniye Cemetery, please contact Jonathan J. Kalmakoff.