Tatiana Gorbenko

Tatiana Georgevna Gorbenko

April 27^th 1931 – October 11^th 2024

Tatiana was born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia to George Pyotr and Ripsemia Philipovna Minasian in 1931. She was the youngest of the family with two sisters, Lydia, Olga and brother Alexander. Tatiana and her parents left Russia when she was nine years old to flee the bombing of their town at the beginning of World War II in 1940. They were refugees until they were captured and sent to the work camps in Germany. After the war in 1949, Tatiana and her parents immigrated to the United States where they settled in San Francisco.

There Tatiana met the love of her life, Taras Gorbenko, and they married in San Francisco in 1952. The young couple shared a love of dance and were accomplished ballroom dancers. Soon after their marriage, Taras was drafted into the US Army and was stationed in Panama. Later Tatiana joined him there and gave birth to their first child, Susanna, 1955. In 1957 they moved to Los Angeles, where she gave birth to their son, Alexander in 1958. In 1960 they moved to Anaheim and that year had their third child, Lydia. Tatiana and Taras raised their children on Gain Street in Anaheim, CA. Here they raised their children with love, care and happiness, giving them the best childhood they could have ever imagined. Tragically in 1990, Taras, the love of Tatiana’s life, suddenly passed away at the age of 57.

In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Tatiana adored her five grandchildren and played a large roll in raising them. Later in life, she was further blessed with five great-grandchildren. She was also a wonderful cook and gracious hostess. She loved to entertain large parties at her home, especially at Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving, preparing a delicious feast for all her guests. 

Throughout her life Tatiana was a devout Russian Orthodox Christian with immense love for Christ and a strong connection to Mary, the most holy mother of God. She was dedicated to her church, The Holy Transfiguration Cathedral and oversaw their feast days and other special celebrations for decades. During this time, she also served as the President of the Russian Children’s Welfare Society that provided needed life changing surgeries, performed in the USA, to children coming from all over the world.

Tatiana is survived by her children, Susanna, Alexander and Lydia and their spouses, Stephen, Linda and Jorge, five grandchildren, Tawni, Elliot, Alexa, Loran and Bianca and five great-grandchildren, Desi, Zoe, Ada Sam, Indy and Miles.

Despite growing up during World War II where she suffered and witnessed unimaginable tragedies, Tatiana never burdened her children or others with her tragic experiences. She will always be remembered as bringing laughter, kindness and love to all. She was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Her love, warmth and spirit will remain with us always.

May her memory be eternal!