Ninel Kutyavina

In Loving Memory of Ninel Kutyavina

July 8, 1938 – October 21, 2026

With heavy hearts and loving memories, we announce the passing of Ninel Kutyavina, who passed away on October 21, 2026, at 8:35 a.m., at the age of 88.

Ninel was born on July 8, 1938, in Tomsk, Russia. Her life was a beautiful story of love, family, devotion, and the simple joys that make a house a home.

Ninel shared an extraordinary love story with her beloved husband, Sergey Kutyavin. Together, they built a life that spanned nearly 70 years of marriage, falling just one month short of their 70th wedding anniversary. Their journey together took them from Russia to the United States in 1998, when they left Moscow to begin a new chapter of their lives. Through the many seasons of life, their enduring marriage was a testament to love, commitment, and the family they built together.

Above all else, Ninel loved her family. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother to her two daughters, Tatiana Cronen Boykin and Natasha Ashley, and a cherished grandmother to Max Cronen, Nellie Cronen, and Olga Dorohova.

If there was one thing that defined Ninel, it was the way she loved others through her actions. Her love language was truly acts of service. She found happiness in cooking a delicious meal, baking something special, tending to her garden, and making sure everyone around her was cared for. For Ninel, cooking was never simply about food. It was her way of saying, “I love you.”

She had a special gift for bringing people together. Family gatherings, shared meals, laughter around the table, and time spent with her children and grandchildren were among her greatest joys. She understood that some of life’s most precious moments happen in the simplest ways—around a dinner table, in a warm kitchen, or in the company of those we love.

Ninel’s life was not measured by grand gestures, but by the countless small acts of kindness and love she gave so freely. Her hands were rarely idle, her heart was always with her family, and her greatest satisfaction came from knowing that the people she loved were happy, comfortable, and well cared for.

She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 70 years, Sergey Kutyavin; her daughters, Tatiana Cronen Boykin and Natasha Ashley; and her grandchildren, Max Cronen, Nellie Cronen, and Olga Dorohova.

Although Ninel will be deeply missed, the love she poured into her family will continue for generations. Her legacy lives on in the traditions she created, the meals she lovingly prepared, the memories shared around her table, and the family she held so dear.

The kitchen may be quieter, and there will be an empty place at the family table, but the love Ninel brought into that home will never leave.

She will forever be remembered, forever loved, and forever missed.