Elizabeth (McLoota) Buriak

Elizabeth “Liz” (McLoota) Buriak was born April 18, 1920 in Mt. Pleasant, PA to Stella and Elias McLoota. Until her passing on Friday, May 25th, she was the last surviving of their 8 children: Josephine, Minnie, Kay, Mary, Jim, Sam and Fred. Her family moved to Johnstown, PA in 1935 where the girls often helped out in the family business. Liz and her sister, Kay, moved to Detroit briefly and worked in a department store before returning to Johnstown. She met and married John Buriak in 1949 and lived in Conemaugh until the family moved to Westmont in 1960. Liz and John were loyal members of St. John’s Orthodox Church where John served as choir director and Liz often volunteered to provide baked goods for the coffee hour after Sunday service. Liz was an avid cook known for her ethnic dishes such as tabouli, kibbe, pita bread, spinach and meat pies, etc. In 1982, her husband John suffered a stroke and Liz went on to care for him at home for 16 more years until his death. She enjoyed being a mother and grandmother, fully devoting herself to taking care of her family. She will be sadly missed by family and friends. Liz is survived by her three children, Phil and wife, Carol (Singel) Buriak, John Allen Buriak, and Jim and wife, Carol (Barger) Buriak and their two children, Jim Philip Buriak and wife, Megan, and Laura Elizabeth Buriak, both now living in southern California. Friends received from 6 until 8pm Sunday, at Henderson-Makuchan Funeral Home, 434 First St., Conemaugh, where Parastas will be sung at 7pm. Funeral service will begin at 9am Monday, then continuing immediately in St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church with Very Rev. Archpriest George Johnson. Interment, church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church building fund.

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