Emelia “Emily” Barniak McGregor, 91, passed away in Damariscotta on the morning of June 4. She was born on Aug. 23, 1923 in Elizabeth, N.J., a daughter of Katherine and Walter Barniak.
The family moved to Lewis County, N.Y. in 1929. Emily attended the country school on Carpenter Road in Turin, and later attended General Martin High School in Glenfield. In those days, children from remote areas boarded in Glenfield in the winter, and Emily was one of those children.
She moved back to New Jersey around 1941 and found work in a factory which supported the war effort, while living with family. In 1946, she married Frank Generazio who died of a sudden heart attack the next year at the age of 29. After returning to her family in New York for a while, she moved in with her sister Stella in Bridgeport, Conn. where she worked and lived for many years.
In 1967 she married Charles McGregor of Rowayton, Conn., and gave birth to her only child, son Sean.
Emily enjoyed traveling and did as much of it as she was able to. During her life, she lived in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, California and Maine. She made many friends along the way with her quiet demeanor and kind heart.
Besides her parents, Emily was predeceased by sister, Anastasia “Stella” Bruner; brother, Edward Barniak Sr. and wife Elon; brother, Henry Barniak and wife Shirley; nieces, Karen Bruner and Lisa Lane; and nephew, Richard Barniak.
She is survived by son, Sean and granddaughter Tabitha of Damariscotta; sister, Gladys Lane and husband George of Turin, N.Y.; nephews, Edward Barniak Jr. of Watertown, N.Y., Walter K. Bruner of Niles, Mich., Alan Barniak of Watertown, N.Y., and Steven Lane of Turin, N.Y.; and nieces, Kathy Essenlohr of Brantingham, N.Y., Diana Sweredoski of Lowville, N.Y., Patricia Smith of Watertown, N.Y., and Mary Gothe of Turin, N.Y. Emily was a gentle soul and will be dearly missed.
A funeral service will be held in Lewis County, N.Y., in the little hamlet of Houseville, a place that sweet Emily always referred to as “up home.”
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
