James Sirbasku

James Sirbasku, Sr. May 15, 1917 November 12, 2010 James "Jim" Sirbasku passed away peacefully from his earthly family after a short but brave battle with cancer on November 12, 2010 at the age of 93. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, November 17 at St. Louis Church in Waco. Visitation in South Saint Paul, Minn., will be at Southern Funeral Home, 414 Marie Ave. 651-451-1551. Romanian services will be held at St. Stefan's Romanian Orthodox Church, 350 5th Ave. N., in South Saint Paul Local visitation and a time to share joyful memories of his life will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 16 at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home Jim was born on May 15, 1917, in the Canadian province Saskatchewan to Romanian parents making their way to America. He proudly became a naturalized US Citizen in 1942 but always remained solid in his Romanian heritage. He was married in 1938 to Carmella DeMaio and they had two sons together, James Louis and David Andrew. During WWII, Jim served in the US Navy in the Pacific and was a Golden Gloves boxer. He was honorably discharged as Seaman Second Class in 1946. Jim went on to work for 50 years at Swift & Company in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1978, he and Carmella moved to Waco where he resided for the remainder of his life. He remained actively involved in the Saint Stefan's Romanian Church in South Saint Paul even after moving to Waco. Jim was lovingly known as "Grandpa" by most who knew him. He enjoyed travel, especially long car rides, and sharing memories of his colorful past, including "running moonshine," as a teen, buying a car for $10 to get to a dance, teaching ballroom dancing in his basement, and riding along with a friend in abandoned planes without wheels. Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Carmella DeMaio Sirbasku, and his son, James Louis Sirbasku. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Sporcic, of South Saint Paul, MN; companion, Marge Carle, of Waco, TX; son, David Andrew Sirbasku and wife, Donna, of Flower Mound, TX; daughter-in-law, Judy Sirbasku, widow of his son, James; grandchildren, David William Sirbasku of Waco, Sarah Lisbeth Sirbasku of Austin, Susan Margaret Priest and husband, Mike, of Waco, Rachel Aileen Sweatt and husband, Jason, of Gainesville, FL, and three great grandchildren, Zoe, Abigail, and Daniel, as well as many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Stefan's Romanian Church, www.sfantulstefan.org, American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, or Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, www.pkdcure.org. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey