Vera (Tchekomasoff) Donskoy Obituary (2024

Vera Tchekomasoff Yurevitch Donskoy, 93, of Darnestown, MD died peacefully May 10, 2024 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Shady Grove, MD. Born May 26, 1930 in Paris, France, she was the sole daughter of Philip Tchekomasoff and Pelagie Sklerov Tchekomasoff. Vera was raised in Paris by her loving parents, White Russian emigres, until she was married in 1951, after which she emigrated to the United States of America and became an American citizen. Having survived the Second World War in occupied Paris, Vera joined the vanguard of women in the workforce, dedicating decades of her life to the State Department as a professional linguist. A woman ahead of her time; Vera was fiercely independent, spirited, and insatiably curious. She had a sharp eye, a quick wit, and an incredible enthusiasm for life. A world traveler and an accomplished artist, Vera expressed her perspective and her experiences in her painting and poetry. Her love of nature and animals found its home in her passion for gardening, a passion second only to politics and world affairs. A multilingual student of history, literature, and culture, Vera kept alive the traditions of her forebears while retaining intense curiosity about the future and an openness to new ideas. With a keen intellect and desire to experience the fullness of life, she embraced her journey with vigor. Always spirited and patriotic in her discussions, she remained current in world affairs to the very end. Vera is survived by her daughters Helen Yurevitch and Kate Yurevitch Stillwell (Bruce A. Stillwell) and was "Babushka" to her grandchildren Sean William Stillwell, Eric Morgan Stillwell and Alexa Kathryn Stillwell. Service is Tuesday May 14, and funeral Wednesday May 15, 2024 at Rock Creek Cemetery in Rock Creek, DC