Raymond Anthony “Buddy” | “Bud Man” Yurcak Obituary (1926 - 2023)

Raymond James Yurcak, age 97, of Erie, residing at Brevillier Village, passed away Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Veterans Affairs Community Living Hospice Unit. He was born in Cambridge Springs on May 26, 1926, son of the late James and Josephine Oskvarek Yurcak. His wife was the late Shirley Soliwoda Yurcak whom he married on October 23, 1948. Raymond was a veteran who volunteered in the US Army, in WWII in the European Theatre. He was raised on a dairy farm and had five brothers and three sisters. Ray was employed at General Electric and retired after 39 years. A great hunter and fisherman all his life, Ray and his son fed the multitudes at the annual fish fry for many years at his camp which he and his family built. Ray was a carpenter, built his first boat and he made over 100 upholstered foot stools and gave them all away (never sold one)! A man of strong faith, he was a founding member, first of Saint James and then Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic churches. Raymond was a member the OLMC Men's Council and Retiree Group. He was most proud of assisting with the framing of the church's stain glass windows. He was a member of the American Legion Carl Neff Post 571 and an active volunteer of the Sons of Lake Erie. In addition to his parents, Raymond was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley Yurcak; son, Raymond A. Yurcak (Buddy); brothers, Andrew, Gus, Wendell, James and William; and sisters, Ann Kineston and Agnes Parise. Raymond is survived by daughters, Sandra Kelley (Brian), Jackie Orelski (Ronald), and Pamela Sedney; daughter-in-law, Deb Yurcak; sister, Pauline Andrews; brother-in-law, Robert Soliwoda; 12 grandchildren, Sally Pamula, Stephanie Hamilton, Arianna Kelley, Julie Hall, Jeff Yurcak, Jeremy Yurcak, Josh Shoop, Darrell Orelski, Dan Orelski, John Orelski, Bethany Hull and Terry Sedney; 13 great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and friends whom he loved dearly. The family would like to thank the staff at Brevillier Village who became his second family during COVID, and also the amazing staff at the Veterans Affairs Community Living Hospice Unit for their excellent care. Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Monday from 4 to 7 pm and are invited to attend a Prayer Service there on Tuesday at 9:15 am followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church. Interment will follow at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the American Legion Carl Neff Post 571. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church, 1531 East Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16510, Brevillier Village 5456 East Lake Rd, Erie, PA 16511 or Veterans Affairs Community Living Hospice Unit, 135 East 38th Street, Erie, PA 16504. CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS PAGE SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL