Virginia Mateleska Obituary

Virginia Saramarie Mateleska

May 5, 1939 - Sep 10, 2024

Huron

Virginia Saramarie (Bursiel) Mateleska, 85, of Huron, passed away Tuesday morning, Sept. 10, 2024, after a seven-year battle with ovarian cancer.

She was born May 5, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, to Gerald and Alverna (Ackerman) Bursiel. The family moved to Boos Road in Huron in 1942 where her father and mother bought and farmed the land. She married John Mateleska on Aug. 4, 1962, at the Methodist Church in Huron. They had three daughters, eventually settling at the family homestead where she was raised.

She was a devout Christian raised in the Baptist faith. She was active in several church functions, enjoyed tending to her flower gardens, and researching the family genealogy. She had an absolute love for the freedoms of the outdoors and nature. She traveled through Europe seeing many of historical sites she read about. She loved spending time with her sister, Beverly, and her brother, Jerry, in the Adirondack mountains and shared the love of antiquing with her youngest sister, Bonnie. It meant a lot to her to see her mother and father through their eyes. You always found her with a good history book, reciting old literature and making sure her grandchildren remembered her family history passed down from generation to generation. Nothing gave her more joy than sifting through old black-and-white family photos speaking to her experiences as the oldest child and sharing her wisdom.

She graduated from Binghamton City Hospital School of Nursing in 1960, Binghamton, New York, and retired from Firelands Regional Medical Center at 77 years old after 44 years of service.

Virginia is survived by her daughters, Jill Buathier (Victor) of Menlo Park, California, Beth McGovern-Bell (Alistair) of Conifer, Colorado, and Ann Adele Leidheiser (Dan) of Catawba Island; five grandchildren, Sarah Leidheiser of Los Angeles, California, Daniel Leidheiser (Dr. Jonathan Gardes) of San Francisco, California, Andrew Leidheiser of Catawba Island, Madison Leidheiser of Catawba Island, and Brice Buathier of Menlo Park, California; two sisters, Beverly Spencer (Bruce) of York, Pennsylvania, and Bonnie Delapp (Craig) of Huron; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Gerald (Jerry) Bursiel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Erie County Humane Society, 1911 Superior St., Sandusky, Ohio, 44870.

Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.