George Martin Yaneka (79) of Pittsford, NY passed away on March 2, 2022 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY after a long, ferociously fought battle with brain cancer. George was born on June 15, 1942 in New York, NY. He moved to New Jersey, where he graduated from New Brunswick High School. He was employed by Supermarket Services in Linden, NJ from 1964-1983, Charles of the Ritz in Mt. Pocono, PA from 1983-1993 and he owned a kitchen cabinet business for 10 years before retiring.
George fought hard and loved even harder. His family meant the world to him; especially his wife of 52 beautiful and adventurous years, Judith Marie (Sandberg) Yaneka. His children, Jennifer Olga Yaneka, Karen Yaneka Cypressi (Sam), his grandchildren Elijah Cole Payette, Sammy Martin Cypressi, Halie Ann Cypressi, Hayden Joseph Cypressi and his great granddaughter Vada Rose Kettell were his heart and a means to continue his legacy of strength, loyalty, integrity and kindness. He was survived by his sister Olga Burke (James) and predeceased by his father Martin Yaneka, mother Olga (Simo) Yaneka and step-mother Emilia (Horvath) Yaneka.
As a proud veteran, George served in the United States Marine Corps as a Corporal in Viet Nam as well as many other locations in his career. He received the Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Rifle Expert Badge and a Letter of Commendation. Aside from his passion for telling and retelling his stories about how he became the man he was in part from his time in the Marines, George was a lover of nature and an avid hunter. He loved nothing more than going to the farm in the Adirondacks and hunting with family and friends in what he called the “Big Woods”.
He was always grateful for the opportunity to travel all around the world and experience new sights, foods and culture. Wherever he went, he always seemed to make new friends and find fellow Marines to share stories and build bonds. His many nieces and nephews adored him and have learned so much from him over the years, from the proper way to stack firewood to living with a no-quit attitude that has inspired anyone that was blessed to know him.
George’s deep faith and the love and support of his friends and family are what emboldened his will to continue on and allow us to create as many memories as possible. He will be deeply missed, but there is comfort in knowing he is now healed and at peace. George had a saying…a simple word of advice, if you will, that anyone can learn and will be better for it: “Be good and be safe”.
A service celebrating George’s life will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the United Church of Pittsford, 123 S. Main St., Pittsford, NY 14534.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or the United Church of Pittsford in George’s memory.
Be good and be safe, George.
