SALEM - Edward Burkacki, 74, of Salem, passed away peacefully at Beverly Hospital after a brief illness. He was born in Poland, just two months before the onset of World War II. He studied engineering at Gdansk Polytechnic Institute and worked as a mechanical engineer at the famed Gdansk Shipyard. He immigrated to the United States in 1981 and was later joined by his wife Maria and his two children Monika and Pawel. He loved classical music and was a gifted painter and carver. He drew his strength from his love of nature and simple things. He will live in our hearts and his artwork will forever remind us of those things which were most important to him.
On 6th March, he was reunited with his predeceased wife, Maria J. Burkacka and five of his nine siblings. He is survived by his daughter Monika Mroczkowska and her husband Tomek Mroczkowski of Upton, his son Pawel Burkacki and his wife Kristin Bouchard of Beverly as well as his four grandchildren Katie, Matthew, Christopher and Cameron. Across the Atlantic Ocean, he leaves his sisters Zosia and Jadwiga and his brothers Andrzej and Tadeusz. He also leaves behind countless others whom he touched with his kindness, big heart and bear hugs, while traveling to many corners of the world in the merchant marine.
Visiting hours will be held from 11AM to 1PM on Saturday, March 15 2014 at the Full Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001. (www.alzfdn.org) For on line guest book and directions, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.