Edith (Bakula) Bourbeau

Edith (Bakula) Bourbeau more commonly known as Yadjia, 84, of 376 Montague City Road died Sunday 3/19/23 at the Greenfield Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Greenfield.  She was born in Turners Falls on May 26, 1938, the daughter of Frank and Eleanora (Kordall) Bakula. She graduated from Turners Falls High School and attended beauty school in Boston.
Edith owned and operated her own beauty salon for many years until her retirement. 
Edith was a jack of all trades and mastered many. She made many wonderful quilts that she gave to family and friends over the years. She also took an interest in playing the organ. She practiced diligently and was eventually able to play in her beloved church the “Our Lady of Czestochowa” where she also sang consistently in the choir and dedicated many volunteer hours.  Yadjia was also an avid gardener and had many perennial flowers in her yard which she tended to vigorously. She always shared her flowers with people and family when the flowers multiplied. Among her other interest were carpentry where she made 2 pieces of beautiful furniture that still remain in her house today. Yadjia was also known for telling very compelling stories and hilarious jokes at family get togethers and would have everyone laughing. Yadjia was also a published author who had all her stories published in one book called “Polish and Proud” that chronicled her upbringing in “The Patch” surrounded by her family in Turners Falls. She was also a proud member of the Polish Womans Alliance. When Yadjia was younger she traveled to Poland 4 times where she visited and stayed with relatives. Yadjia was fluent in speaking the Polish language so this made the trips that much more enjoyable. With all these interests there was one other thing she really loved and that was babysitting her granddaughter Jenavieve who she spent every Thursday and Friday with for the first 5 years of her life before Jenavieve went to kindergarten. Yadjia referred to her baby grand daughter as her living doll and dressed her in beautiful clothes and bonnets for all occasions in her early years.  
Among her survivors, Edith leaves a son, Christopher Filanowski and his wife Lynne of North Attleboro, and her granddaughter Jenavieve. She also is survived by many nieces and nephews. 
Edith was predeceased by her husband, Charles Bourbeau on March 20, 2012. Edith is also predeceased by her brothers Frank, Walter & Dominic and her sisters Helen, Vera & Ginka. 
Funeral services will be held Friday 3/24 at 9:15am from the Kostanski Funeral Home, 1 Kostanski Square, Turners Falls followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10am at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 84 K Street, Turners Falls.  Burial will be at a later date at the convenience of the family.  
Calling hours will be held Thursday evening from 5-7pm at the funeral home. 
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish Renovation Fund, 84 K Street, Turners Falls, MA 01376.
For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com. 
 
 

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