Anne (Jennings) Burchesky

Anne Dickenson Jennings Burchesky, 96, wife of the late Dr. Robert Burchesky passed away peacefully Tuesday evening February 21, 2017 at Sunrise Senior Living, Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania where she had resided since 2013. 

Mrs. Burchesky was born in Johnson City, Tennessee of parents Stephen Richard Jennings Sr. and Eva Dickenson Jennings.  Mrs. Burchesky attended East Tennessee State University and was proudly employed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Washington D.C. as the first FBI female lab photographer during WW II under Director J. Edgar Hoover. She met a young dental student at Georgetown University and fell in love. Anne married Robert Zenon Burchesky of Herkimer, New York a year later in 1944 in Johnson City, TN.  Upon Dr. Burchesky’s discharge from the army they and their son Kenneth moved to Utica, New York in 1948 and had three more children; Stephen, Douglas and Carole.

While Mrs. Burchesky lived in Utica and New Hartford, NY from 1948 until 2002, she was active in many organizations and served as president/treasurer/volunteer of many clubs and organizations including; Welcome Wagon Newcomers Club, Wives of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Utica Genetaska, Wives of the Kiwanis Club, Wives of the Utica Dental Society, First Presbyterian Church of Utica,  St. Lukes Hospital Auxiliary, Republicans 100,000 Club of Oneida County, NY, Oneida Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), New Hartford Library, Munson William Proctor Museum, Oneida County Historical Society, YWCA, St. Lukes Hospital Volunteers, Volunteer Heart Fund Drives, Meals On Wheels, Central Association for the Blind, 1950-President Welcome Wagon Newcomers Club, Junior Chamber Wives, Women's' Auxiliary to Utica Dental Society, New York State Dental Auxiliary, Children's Community Theatre, Senior President Children of the American Revolution Society, Hugh R. Jones School P.T.A., United States Women’s Curling Association, Senior Ladies Curling Club International (SLICCS), Utica Curling Club Glengaries president, co-founded The Debonair's ball room dancing club and was, along with her husband, a honorary life-time member of the Utica Curling Club of Utica, New York.

After Anne and Robert moved to Canonsburg in 2002, she, along with Bob, became a member of the Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church. Anne was also a member of the Canonsburg Hospital Auxiliary, TWIGS Bridge Club, Canonsburg Library Book Club, and Bethel Park Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.  

Along with her husband and the entire family,  Anne loved the sport of curling so much that, at age 96 and in a wheel chair, she was given the honor to 'throw out the first rock' for the Burchesky-founded curling club; New Pond Curling Club of Walpole, MA. The event was held at the Pittsburgh Curling Club's 2016 Tropicurl. The four-generation team included her son Doug Burchesky, her grandsons Kyle Burchesky and Sean Burchesky, her granddaughter Jenna and her great granddaughter Noa Burchesky. More recently, Anne learned that her granddaughter Jenna Rose was representing the USA in the World Junior Curling Championships currently being held in Gangneung, South Korea. She was able to view a video of Jenna curling when the USA team scored a remarkable '6-ender' against Japan. With a smile of total satisfaction, she softly clapped her hands and then blew a kiss towards Jenna; It was priceless.

Also surviving are her children and extended family; Son, Dr. Kenneth M. Burchesky (Janet Chickering) and granddaughter Seah Chickering-Burchesky, of Lyndonville, VT; Son, Stephen Richard Burchesky (Bonita Linder), grandson, Michael Zenon Burchesky and granddaughter, Natalie Linder Burchesky all of Canonsburg; Son, R. Douglas Burchesky (Jane), grandson, Sean Edward Burchesky, granddaughter, Jenna Rose Burchesky, grandson, Kyle Richard Burchesky (Adrianne Zahner) and great granddaughter, Noa Zahner Burchesky all of Walpole, MA; Daughter, Carole Burchesky Starr (Gary Vineyard) of Nashville, TN; Nephews; Frederic H. Brandt, Johnson City, TN and George F. Brandt Jr., (Susan) Nashville, TN; nieces, Eve Jennings Sherwood, Johnson City, TN; and Anne Jennings Arnstrom (Scott) of Minneapolis, MN; 1st cousins; Adelaide Jennings Smith (Frisby) Wytheville, VA, Florence Wofford Liddell (Roger), NYC, NY, Gail Jennings Wofford (Al) NYC, NY; Charles Raymond Jennings Jr., Lodi, CA; and many great nieces and nephews. Predeceased family members are; sisters Rosalie Jennings Brandt King and Evelyn Dickenson Jennings, brother Stephen Richard Jennings Jr. (Virginia) all of Johnson City, TN.; Kenneth William Sherwood of Johnson City, TN; and granddaughter Kathleen Anne Burchesky of Canonsburg, PA.

Anne always taught her children "Honesty is the best policy" and only wanted to be remembered as 'a loving mother of four children'.

The Burchesky family wishes to thank the following caregivers; Strabane Woods, Washington, PA; Loraine Koval of Washington, PA; Dr. Lynne Taiclet and the UPMC Special Needs Dental Clinic staff; Pam Walker, Director of Pastoral Care of Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church; Gateway Hospice, Gallagher Hospice and the wonderful staff of Sunrise Senior Living for the gentle and loving care given to her over the past several years.

Charitable donations may be made to the "Pittsburgh Curling Club", PO Box 16095
Pittsburgh, PA 15242 in the memory of Bob and Anne Burchesky.

Friends are welcome from 2~4 & 6~8 PM on Monday, February 27, 2017 in Salandra Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., Joseph P. Salandra, owner/supervisor, 304 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, 724-745-8120. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church, 112 West Pike Street, Canonsburg. EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT THE CHURCH. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Canonsburg.