On May 1st, 2024, Jane Teresa Sojda Burns journeyed peacefully home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ and to be reunited with her beloved husband, John “Jack” Burns, her mother Helen, father John Sojda Sr., five brothers, Valentine, Julian, Richard, Gerald, and John Sojda, Jr., and her two sisters, Mary Stan, and Dorothy George.
She is survived by her two daughters, Cheryl A. Graham and Luanne (Kelly) Chamberlain, four grandchildren Renee (Michael) Francavilla, Shane Graham, Samantha Goldrich, and Mikaela Goldrich, two great-grandchildren, Alexis (Nick) Collins and Dominic Francavilla, and two great-great-grandchildren, Anderson Jane Collins, and Michael Graham Collins. She also leaves behind nearly 30 nieces and nephews, who were very special to her and with whom she spoke frequently.
Jane was born on June 17, 1931. She was friendly and positive in her interactions with everyone, from family and friends to hospital staff and the strangers. She instilled her spirit of friendliness and generosity into her children, grandchildren and extended family, thus spreading her humanitarian impact, as they carry on her legacy across the country.
Her positivity, humor, smile, and laugh were genuine and brought comfort to conversations to everyone with whom she interacted, and will be sadly missed by so many whose lives were touched by her kindness throughout her wonderful ninety-two years of her life. She was an avid knitter and puzzler, and many who knew her were recipients of her handmade knitted blankets and puzzles.
Friends may call Monday, June 17th from 10:30am to 11:30am at the J. LEONARD McANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 Bogue Ave., Batavia, where services will commence at 11:15am. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, June 17th at 12 noon at Resurrection Parish, 303 East Main St., Batavia. She will be laid to rest in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Batavia.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.mcandrewfuneralhomes.net.
ARRANGEMENTS WERE ENTRUSTED TO THE J. LEONARD McANDREW FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 2 BOGUE AVE., BATAVIA, NY 14020. RONALD KONIECZNY II, DIRECTOR.
