Tamara Nikandrovna Boriakoff, Born November 18 th , 1939. With our hearts lifted up we bid farewell to Tamara Boriakoff. Daughter to Nicandre and Julia, Mother to Alexander and Andrei, Sister to Victor and Luisa, Grandmother to Elena and Matthew, Godmother to Cornelia and wife to Valentin.
Born in 1939 in Kramatorsk Ukraine, Tamara and her family were refugees during the end of the second world war and even passed Dresden when the Allies were bombing. After a long journey the family ended up in Europe in Germany and Belgium with the future intention to emigrate to the United States. Due to the strict immigration policies of the time, they had to wait until 1959 to make the trip to this country.
After arriving in New York Tamara worked a job at Termina Construction which she very much enjoyed. Soon after that she met Valentin Boriakoff a graduate student and was married in 1969. In 1974 and 1977 respectively her sons Alexander and Andrei were born and the family moved to Ithaca New York where she selflessly served her family as housewife. The gardens she planted were stunning displays of beauty and bounty.
Sundays were spent at Entrance of the Theotokos parish outside of Syracuse, NY. Leading by example, she drove 4 hours to celebrate the Divine Liturgy every week with her children.
A career change landed the family in Worcester Massachusetts briefly followed by settling in Northboro for over 2 decades. During that time the children grew up, and she spent her time serving Parish of Holy Epiphany in Roslindale.
Eventually she became the Head sister of the sisterhood. She worked tirelessly preparing trapezas after Liturgy. Fundraising efforts were nonstop. Thousands of pierozhki and goods were prepared and sold. The efforts were critical to the growth of the church to the present day. Tamara believed that giving sacrificially of yourself to the efforts of the church truly raise the Body of Christ.
In recent years after retiring from the Sisterhood, Tamara moved to Hudson and spent her days in retirement. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. She loved going on food shopping trips and was always looking for good deals at the butcher shop. She continued to support the church by contributing to Holy Epiphany and Holy Annunciation coffee hours frequently.
Tamara fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday September 30, 2026 on the eve of the Great Feast of the The Protection of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, The Great Feast of the Sisterhood.
On this day we, the Orthodox people, joyously keep festival, / illumined by your coming, O Mother of God; / and, beholding your most pure image, we cry out with compunction: / "Cover us with your Protecting Veil and deliver us from all evil, / entreating your Son, Christ our God, to save our souls.-----
Panyheda services at Holy Epiphany Russian Orthodox Church 963 South St. Roslindale on Monday October 5 at 7 pm. Funeral Service at the church on Tuesday October 6 at 10 am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will take place at Saints Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Methuen at 2 pm.