Charna Bulayevsky, 99, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away peacefully, surrounded in love on Jan. 27.
Charna, born on July 2, 1926, in Ódessa, Odesa Oblast, Ukraine, to Abram and Raisa Polyak, was a beacon of resilience and love who never allowed adversity to overshadow her radiant spirit. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who made the world a better place with her warmth and support. She was a talented seamstress whose hands spun threads into stories of beauty and dedication. Music and dance were her solace, joy and expressions of life’s beauty amidst its trials.
Charna’s life was a testament to her indomitable spirit. She grew up in challenging circumstances, surviving the Holocaust; her resilience saw her through the turmoil of war and displacement. From Odessa to Uzbekistan and back, from meager meals to communal living, Charna’s journey was marked by hardships even at the young age of 15.
In 1979, she made the brave decision to move to the United States, seeking a better life for her family. Her selflessness was legendary, always putting her children first, even when she was thousands of miles away. She was a pillar of strength for her family, ensuring their survival and wellbeing at all costs. She singlehandedly raised her daughters Alina and Dina, who stand today as proud symbols of their mother’s courage and tenacity.
Charna leaves behind a legacy woven with threads of her love and strength. She is survived by her daughters, Alina Bashmakov and husband Ilya and Dina Claiborne and husband Darrell; her grandchildren, Alex Bashmakov and wife Olga and Anna Claiborne and wife Jacquie; and her great-granddaughter, Alice Bash. She was preceded in death by her parents, Abram and Raisa Polyak, and her brother, Gregory Polyak.
Graveside services were held on Jan. 30 at Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jewish Family Services.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
