Christina Margaret (Burkett) Tacka

CHRISTINA MARGARET TACKA 
Passed away peacefully on 5/16/2024 at age 96.  She was born in Amsterdam, New York to Wilbert L Burkett and Margaret Ann (Lantry) Burkett. Her early years were spent in Massena and Brasher Falls, NY.  She graduated from Potsdam State Teachers College and taught school for many years.  She met Chester Tacka, Sr, who graduated from Clarkson College of Technology, also in Potsdam, after serving in the Army in the ETO in WWII. Christina and Chester married in Brasher Falls, NY on 8/29/1950. They lived in Buffalo, and the Town & City of Tonawanda, NY where they raised their children, many dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, guinea pigs, bunnies, and even frogs.  Later they lived in Townsend, MA. After retiring, they spent the remaining years in Bethel Park, PA. Christina was predeceased by her husband, her parents, and brothers Daniel (Henry), John Michael Burkett, and Charles "Woody" Burkett. Surviving are her children Chester L. Tacka, Jr (Denise), Christina Tacka, Cheryl Tacka, sister Ann Marie Giorgi (Joseph), grandchildren Jessica Tacka (Mike Barrish), Alexander Tacka (Melissa), Katelyn McGahey, Trevor McGahey (Denise), special niece Patricia Burkett, her cat Tux, as well as many nieces and nephews. She loved traveling, taking many trips to Europe and the Caribbean. Her sense of humor was legendary unless you happened to mention the "1936 Johnstown Flood Liquor Tax" which would cause her to rant about why they have to tax the price of gin for a flood that happened nearly 90 years before!  Her family would randomly say "Johnstown Flood" at family gatherings, just to get a rise out of her! Christina had an amazing "Joie de Vivre" and was stubbornly - sometimes alarmingly! - independent to the end. Then she left. Instead of flowers, pet your dog, scratch your cat, or donate to a local animal rescue organization in her name. Christina will be buried with her husband at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Arrangements by Ball Funeral Chapel, Inc.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Christina Margaret (Burkett) Tacka, please visit our floral store.