Jim and Barbara's Genealogy Trip Day Four/Part 2-September 11

Day four/Part 2 was an extraordinary event.  When I contacted Dan Burjoski, my second cousin. He told me that we were welcome to come to his house, but that the family was having a dinner and party celebrating the sixth birthday of his son Daniel.  This was an excellent opportunity to not only see Dan, but his immediate family, his wife Maria's family and Dan's mother and sister and her family.  Wow!  More than we bargained for.

Dan's wife Maria and her family are from Sicily.  They are all great cooks and we had some good eats.  Maria's father was in Sicily when Patton and Montgomery invaded to take back the island from the Nazi and Fascist troops.  He briefly shared with us some of the stories that he remembered as a 10 year old in 1943 including the destruction of the cities due to the allied bombing. 

We met Wendy Burjoski Schuster and her family. Wendy is the brother of Dan and daughter of Jenny.  Jenny was the wife of my first cousin Danny Burjoski.  Jenny has corresponded with my mother.  I hope to open some lines of communication with Jenny as I learn more about my whole Burjoski family. 

I was hoping to meet with my second cousin Lori Burjoski Savage.  Unfortunately, she had other plans and was unable to meet with me.  We did talk on the telephone and I gave her my email address.  We have since begun to correspond and I look forward to the information exchange. Thanks to all who took time to talk with me and answer questions. 

    

Dan Burjoski, my second cousin and his son Daniel Burjoski blow out the candles on a beautiful birthday cake celebrating Daniel's sixth birthday.   Thank you Dan for making us a part of the event.

 

Also attending the gala event was my second cousin and her family, Wendy Burjoski Schuster in the middle.  In the background is Wendy's husband Paul Schuster and on both sides of Wendy are their daughters.  On the left is Jackie and on the right Becky.   Wendy is the daughter of the late Danny Burjoski and his wife Jenny and sister to Dan Burjoski.  Now is everyone confused?

 

An admiring grandmother, aunt and older sister watch young Daniel prepare for his celebration.  We all sang happy birthday.  To the left is the late Danny Burjoski's former wife Jenny Hoshooly, Aunt Wendy Burjoski Schuster.  In the foreground to the left is Daniel's middle sister Laura Burjoski and to the right is young Daniel.
 

Daniel looks on as his mother Maria reads the birthday cards to him.  Daniels oldest sister Eliana looks on.  Maria's sister in the middle of the picture and I apologize for not getting her name.

 

And of course, the one picture of the day that I botched was the photograph of the lovely Dan Burjoski family.  Sorry Dan, i couldn't straighten it out, but it is still nice anyway.  Standing to left is my cousin Dan Burjoski. seated is his son Daniel Burjoski, his wife Maria. Immediately behind Maria is her mother and I didn't catch her name. Next to Maria is Dan and Maria's daughter Laura and next to Laura is Dan and Maria's oldest daughter Eliana.  Seated in the background next to Maria's mother are two of her sisters..