Daria’s Funeral Service

Yesterday was Daria’s funeral service. At the funeral home, the family gathered around in the eating area an hour before the start of her service. We spoke softly to each other and shed a few tears for Daria and for each other. The funeral director then took me to the chapel area to show me Daria’s urn, her large framed picture and flower arrangement.  I silently said oh Daria to her picture and cried and stayed a while. 

I didn’t notice walking in, I thought the place was empty, but there were two young ladies sitting in one of the pews. When I turned to leave, they both got up and tearfully introduced themselves and offered their condolences. I told them that I knew who they were. Daria had given both of them their start in their HR careers. Daria talked about them often, followed their progress and after leaving that job for another, they continued met regularly for dinner.

That was my Daria. Thank you to all those that came to Daria's service and offered their condolences to the family and myself.

Don

Below is the link to the picture montage that was shown at her service. When you get there, click on Daria’s picture to start the series rolling.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Daria-Maluta&lc=3721&pid=148065092&mid=4526284&locale=en-CA

or Google, Memories Funeral Home Edmonton AB

Daria’s Eulogy by her brother-in-law Peter

   Daria Maluta passed away January 22, 2011 at the age of forty-nine, two days before her fiftieth birthday. She will be sadly missed, but lovingly remembered by her husband Donald, her mother Jennie, her sisters Maria, Anne, Olga, Diane, and her brother Steve.  Daria had been predeceased by her father Roman Maluta in 2001.

    Daria was born on January 24, 1961, and grew up on the family farm near Glendon Alberta, where she attended school. Upon graduation from high school, Daria moved to Edmonton where she was employed by Canada Safeway for approximately twenty years. It was during this period she became interested in business management and human resource development. In 1995 she studied Front End Management offered by Cornell University, and in 1998 she studied Management Development offered by the Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta.  

  During this period, Daria was also a member of Toastmasters International and regularly volunteered at the Youth Emergency Shelter in Edmonton. In 2003 after having been diagnosed with breast cancer, Daria continued her volunteer work and participated in a Cure for Cancer marathon held in Seattle Washington.

  In 2004, she began her studies towards a Human Resources Certificate, offered by the Faculty of Extension, at the University of Alberta. At this time Daria also decided to make a career change, and she was able to obtain employment with Edmonton Northlands with their Human Resources department. In 2007, Daria was hired by the Eveready Income Fund and employed as a Human Resources Generalist, she remained in this position until her illness caused her to retire.  

  However Daria refused to totally give up her studies in Human Resources and was able to obtain a Human Resources Management Diploma from Grant McEwan University in 2010, despite only being able to attend on a part-time basis while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for her illness.

    In 2000, Daria at the age of thirty-nine, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She endured radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery and was cancer free for eight years, at which point the cancer returned. After her chemotherapy treatments to try to force the cancer into remission, Daria volunteered to participate in the phase 1 clinical trials for the new experimental drug Brivanib, which it was hoped could help future cancer patients. 

  She became a spokesman and activist for those also suffering  from metastatic cancer, and traveled to our nation’s capital to speak to members of parliament about the need for greater cancer awareness and treatment. In this capacity, she set up her internet blog, ( Daria-Living with cancer.)  which allowed her to chronicle her treatment, share her feelings and inspire and encourage others around the world, suffering from this disease. 

 Closer to home Daria continued to volunteer and help others, through the Breast Cancer Network she provided counseling to others on a daily basis. Daria not only shared her busy life with her beloved husband Don  and her dog Daisy, she developed a worldwide network of friends through her blog and Facebook entries, who she continued to inspire daily.