Nadia (Anastasia) Shantora (nee Kononow) passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side at the age of 81.

Nadia, beloved wife of Winston, married for 55 years, loving mother to Helen (Joel Czap) and Victor Shantora. She arrived with her family in Halifax, Pier 21, via a ship named Nelly. They defected from Russia during WWII, and then to Belgium for a few years before arriving in Agincourt for one year and then purchased four acres in Pickering and built a home. Nadia attended Ajax High School and was the first runner-up contestant in the Miss Oshawa Pageant.

Nadia's first job was a secretary with the Province of Ontario's Savings Office at Queen's Park. She had various jobs but eventually returned to the Ministry of Natural Resources as a law clerk before taking an early retirement. After retirement, Nadia and her sister Lydia owned and operated an antique shop on Kingston Road, and then both moved on to help manage The Garden Room.

Nadia was excellent with her cooking and baking skills and also enjoyed travelling, shopping, gardening and farming. She was an extraordinary hostess, who was always smiling and loved to laugh.

Nadia was in the Sisterhood at the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church for many years. Everyone who met her, never forgot her. Nadia was a beautiful, elegant and generous force in our lives and will be dearly missed.

A small, private family service will be held at Pine Hills Funeral Centre, with Prayers to be recited on Tuesday, November 15th, at 11am. An Interment will follow at Pine Hills Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society.