Georgianna Burciaga

Georgianna was born on a farm in Elkland, Missouri, the third of 4 children born to Virgil and Lucy Pettigrew. Her brothers Joe Day and Rex and sister Nadine preceded her in death.
After college, Georgianna lived in southwest Missouri where she taught school and sang in a trio reminiscent of the Lennon Sisters.  She and daughter Julie later moved to St. Louis where she lived close to sister Nadine and brother-in-law Alvin Price and their children Marsha and Randy.
George, as she was known by many, continued her teaching career in St. Louis.  Mutual friends introduced her to Joe Burciaga Jr. in 1961. They married on August 10, 1962 and became a blended family of 5 including Joe’s children Toni and Joe III (Joey).

George taught second grade before becoming a reading teacher.  One of her proudest achievements was teaching English to 3 young Chinese immigrant siblings who spoke no English at all.
In 1970 Georgianna and Joe moved their family to Sioux City, Iowa, where George retired from teaching and became a stay-at-home mom to Julie and Toni and took up the game of golf. She was proud of their son Joey, who was serving his country in the Air Force in Okinawa.

Joe’s career took him and George to Dallas, Texas in 1979. All their kids were grown, but with Toni and Joey having already moved to other states, Julie decided to move to Texas with them.
George loved her family and was a wonderful hostess when family and friends came to visit.  She and Joe shared a love of gardening, evidenced by the beautiful plants and flowers inside and outside all their homes. For many years, George enjoyed feeding and caring for a family of turtles that lived in an outdoor habitat. She laughed when they would come “running” when they heard her coming with their food - canned dog food!

Her beloved and devoted husband Joe passed away in 2003. George continued to share her home and enjoy the companionship of daughter Julie and dog, Chloe, until Alzheimer’s made it unsafe to remain there.  On November 14, 2011, she entered Brookdale Creekside Memory Care Center where she remained until passing away on November 2, 2018.

Georgianna is survived by daughter Julie Burciaga of Plano, son Joe III and his wife Carol of Sunrise, Florida, daughter Toni Burciaga, granddaughters Brandi Chalfant and Nikki Chalfant, great-grandchildren Jesse Rey and Elliot Duane Hock, Bradin Charles Holland and Bayli Nicole Navarro, all of the Houston area. Also sister-in-law Mary Miller of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, brother-in-law John Burciaga and wife Linda Lu of Newburyport, Massachusetts and many nieces and nephews.

We are thankful to the wonderful staff at Creekside for taking care of George during this journey. It takes a very special person to care for an Alzheimer’s patient. They are as important to the family members as to the patient. We also thank special friend Joyce Phillips. Her husband entered Creekside at the same time as George.  Joyce has continued to be a friend, confidant and incredible source of strength for Julie and Toni during this difficult journey.  Everyone should be so lucky to have a friend like Joyce.

The family will greet friends at an “Afternoon of Remembrance” reception on Saturday, November 17, 2018 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 PM at Allen Family Funeral Options.

Should you so desire, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, www.alzfdn.org/