Funeral Home Service Livetream (starting 11:00am, Friday, May 16, 2025)

MIDDLE GROVE, NY- Edna (Stein) Lake, 79, passed away in Saratoga, New York on Mother's Day, May 11, 2025, surrounded in love by her family.

Edna was the deeply adored wife of Sanford Lake, her husband of 54 years, and a wondrous and wonderful mother of four children -- Joshua (Maryana) of Forest Hills, NY, Sarah Eskin (Eliot) of Scotch Plains, NJ, Matthew (Julia) of Richmond, VA, and Tobias (Sarah) of Missoula, MT. She was the ever devoted, spectacularly joyous "Mimi" to her five grandchildren -- Zachary and Talia Eskin, Lilia and Isabella Lake, and Elouise "Ellie" Lake. Edna is also survived by her beloved brother Jack Stein of Sicklerville, NJ. She was predeceased by her parents, Max and Ruth Stein, and her brother Joel Stein.

Edna was born in New York and raised in Hialeah, Florida. She attended Florida State University and went on to earn a master of science at SUNY Albany, while also raising her four young children. Edna was a beloved and respected school psychologist for over 25 years, with exceptional skills and abilities, and a reputation for always putting the needs of her students first.

Edna served in the Fonda-Fultonville, Schalmont, Schenectady and Niskayuna School Districts and prior to that served as an outstanding high school English teacher at the Caribbean School in Ponce, Puerto Rico and as a bilingual middle and high school English teacher at the Elvel School in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She contributed three years as a member of the Schenectady City School Board, including one year as its president. After her retirement she often volunteered her time at Cafe Lena, where she loved being surrounded by the sounds of live folk music. She was happiest at the beach, snorkeling in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Edna was superbly intelligent and empathetic, well read, well-traveled, an animal lover, always curious and extraordinarily kind. She also believed in equity, justice and the power of education and critical thinking - values she worked hard to instill in her children. She was deeply adored and a radiant light and unifying force in the life of her family and friends, and she will be missed profoundly and remembered always with the deepest imaginable love.

A funeral home service will be conducted at 11 AM on Friday, May 16, 2025 officiated by Rabbi Ilana Symons of Temple Sinai at the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Online remembrances can be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.