Vera N. Bye

February 14, 1956 – October 10, 2026

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Vera was poetry, resilience, and work ethic in one beautiful soul.

Vera Nickoliavna Bye, a nationally recognized artist, passed away peacefully at home under hospice care on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., following a courageous battle with aggressive leukemia.

Vera was born on February 14, 1956, in Magadan, Kamchatka Province, Russia.

In March 2005, Vera met George Bye in a way that perfectly reflected her unique and poetic spirit. Their connection began with an unexpected, thoughtfully written online message from Vera, who was living in Siberia at the time, while George resided in San Diego, California. What began as curiosity soon blossomed into a meaningful relationship.

The two met in person for the first time in June 2005 at the airport in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. George traveled to Russia three times that year to visit Vera. In June 2006, Vera moved to the United States, and the couple married that August. Although their marriage ended in 2012, their friendship, mutual respect, and partnership remained strong throughout the years.

Following an automobile accident in November 2014, Vera reached out to George for help. He was there for her, and from that point forward, they continued sharing their lives as close friends and business partners. Together, they worked side by side purchasing and restoring properties, a journey that eventually brought them to Florida.

After spending nearly three years in Moscow, where she underwent a knee replacement, Vera returned to California to assist George with the rehabilitation of a friend's home. On April 20, 2026, she was diagnosed with leukemia, a battle she faced with remarkable courage and resilience.

Vera shared a special bond with her beloved dog, Joey, whom she and George lovingly considered their only child. Joey passed away two years before Vera, and George finds comfort in the thought that they are now reunited.

Vera is survived by her two sons, Vacily and Vadim Vanin, and her grandson, Victor Vanin, all of Moscow, Russia.

Graveside Services will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 10AM at Serenity Gardens Cemetery in Lakeland, Florida.

Vera was poetry, resilience, and work ethic in one beautiful soul.

May she rest peacefully.