Mrs. Olga (Bereskin) Mazzei

UTICA - Mrs. Olga (Bereskin) Mazzei, age 77, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 29, 2018. Born in Minsk, Belarus on April 14, 1941, Olga was the daughter of the late Roman and Anna (Chernetski) Bereskin and wife of the late Vincent A. Mazzei. She was a graduate of Utica College of Syracuse University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree and then pursued her post-graduate studies at Norwich University. Olga dedicated 31 years to her profession as an educator in the New Hartford Central School System where she taught Russian, French and German at the junior high and high school levels. She was a beloved teacher who built a very popular and successful Russian language program. Year after year, her students were awarded with gold medals from state and national Russian competitions. Olga was honored to help write the New York State Russian Regents exam for many years, and she also served as a translator for the Utica City Court system. Olga was a communicant of St. John of Kronstadt Russian Orthodox Memorial Church in Utica. Olga was fondly known for her unparalleled hospitality and hostess skills. Her beautiful home meant so much to her and she loved to fill it with friends and family. Olga was an incredible cook and was never satisfied unless her guests were well fed. She also loved to garden and spent countless hours outside tending to her plants and enjoying the natural surroundings and landscape of her home. She was an avid reader with a particular passion for historical fiction and she loved to pass time tackling the daily crossword puzzle. Her family was everything to her, but her many friends were incredibly important to her as well. Olga made everyone feel special, and entertaining her friends or enjoying a meal with them brought her immense joy. She also loved music, especially opera, which her family played to comfort her in her last moments of life. Olga is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Tanya and Michael McRorie of Sauquoit, and Natasha and Matthew Kaiser of Basking Ridge NJ; her son and daughter-in-law, Edward F. Manley, Jr., “Butch” and Chase Manley of New Hartford; grandchildren, Adam and Mallory McRorie, Nicholas and Serene McRorie; Emma Manley, Claire Manley (and their mom Lisa); Sophia Kaiser, Johnny Kaiser, and Michael Kaiser; and her two grand-puppies Teddy and Jax. Olga was excitedly awaiting the arrival of her first two great-grandchildren in April and July. She will also be remembered by her brothers, Igor Bereskin, Peter Bereskin and Roman Bereskin; and one niece, Theresa DiMeo and her family. Olga also leaves behind many cherished friends. She was predeceased by her in-laws, Vincenzo and Theresa Mazzei, Fred R. and Perley Mazzei, Carmella S. and Louis A. Lalli, John A. DiMeo and Johnny DiMeo. Expressions of sympathy in the form of donations in her memory may be directed to St. John of Kronstadt Russian Orthodox Memorial Church, 1009 Conkling Avenue, Utica, NY 13501 or online at https://www.stjkmemfund.org or Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute at https://www.mwpai.org/ or to Stevens-Swan Humane Society of Oneida County at https://stevens-swan.org/donate/. Funeral services and Interment in Holy Trinity Monastery Cemetery in Jordanville will be held privately and at the convenience of the family.

Mrs. Olga (Bereskin) Mazzei

April 14, 1941 - December 29, 2018