Good-bye Baba

My wife's beloved grandmother, Anna Zaleski Burak, passed away yesterday. Grandma Anna or as my kids affectionately called her, Baba, was a wonderful, loving grandma. Since I first met her 21 years ago she treated me like family. I loved her and will miss her. I have the wonderful privilege of being a pall bearer for her on Saturday. Baba is pictured above between my daughters on the left -- this was taken at the "Blessing of the Baskets" at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church on Holy Saturday of this year. Anna Zaleski Burak Anna Zaleski Burak, 90, of Syracuse, passed away Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at Crouse Hospital. A lifetime resident of Syracuse, she began her career in hairdressing after graduating from Eastwood High School at age 15. Anna served her apprenticeship at Bertha's Beauty Salon in Eastwood where she worked until her marriage in 1944 to Lt. Carl Burak. She practiced hairdressing intermittently through the years until age 75. After retiring, she continued to work part-time at Kathleen & Kompany on James St. She lived at various Air Force bases, including Itami Air Base in Japan following World War II. Anna was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church. She also sang in the Ukrainian and English Liturgy Choirs. She was a former member and past president of the Ladies' Auxiliary. She was a member of the Apostleship of Prayer and Ukrainian National Home. She was also a former member and past president of the USAF Officers’ Wives’ Club at Hancock. She enjoyed vacationing with her family at the Ukrainian National Assn. Estate Soyuzivka. She enjoyed spending time with her family. Anna’s husband, Carl, died December 15, 1991. Surviving are her daughters, Patricia (William Prusinowski) Burak of Camillus and Marusia (Rick) Marrapese of Honeoye; sons, David of Santa Monica, CA and William (Michele) of No. Syracuse; sister, Mary Kitt of Rochester; brother, William Zaleski of North Syracuse; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Services will be at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Buranich Funeral Home, 5431 W. Genesee St., Camillus and at 11:30 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church where a Divine Liturgy for the Deceased will be celebrated. Relatives and friends may call Friday, September 18, 2009 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home with the Apostleship of Prayer at 3:45 p.m. and Panakhyda service at 6:30 p.m. Anna will be laid to rest at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery. Contributions may be made to St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, 207 Tompkins St., Syracuse, NY 13204. Here are some of Baba's pysanky and babka bread.