Clifton Park, NY - Lula Polezoes, 98, passed away at home in the early hours of July 12, just seventy-seven days short of her 99 ^th birthday. Born on September 27, 1923, in Elyria, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Spero Valassis and Helen Voudouris Valassis. She graduated with honors from Elyria High School in 1940 and was accepted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Her dream was to become a pilot. The attack on Pearl Harbor forced her to change plans.

After graduating from the Oberlin School of Commerce in 1942, she went to work at as a secretary at Ridge Tool, an Elyria factory making parts for the Manhattan Project. After the war she met Paul Polezoes, a handsome, young marine and they married on January 4, 1946. In 1958 they moved to Saratoga Springs, New York, where they owned various businesses, including the Twins Diner on South Broadway, the Horsemen's Restaurant in Saratoga Raceway, and The Hutch in Malta, New York. They were married for 35 years, until Paul's untimely death in 1981. After her husband's passing Lula went back to work as a secretary for Dr. Carassavas in Saratoga Springs, followed by several years' employment at the Saratoga County Library System.

Lula was a kind, thoughtful, and sensitive woman, interested in others. She was devoted to her family, especially her beloved grandchildren, John Christopher and Sarah. She was shy, but she loved adventure. A voracious reader, famous in her family for always having a book in hand, she was well read on many topics. She loved archeology, space exploration, biographies of interesting people, and mysteries. Occasionally she would write poetry, and her poem, "Aegean Seas" was selected for a poetry anthology. She also loved to travel, and visited, the British Isles, Italy, Greece, and Mexico. In her eighties she went with family to Las Vegas and enjoyed herself immensely. Lula enjoyed dining out, and never turned down an invitation to visit a new restaurant or revisit an old favorite.

Lula was preceded in death by her husband Paul, her parents, and by her brothers, Theodore Valassis and Thomas Valassis. She is survived by two daughters, Betsy D'Annibale (John) of Clifton Park, New York; Ellen Wallack (David) of Baltimore, Maryland; two grandchildren: Sarah Wallack of New York City; John Christopher D'Annibale (Kelley) of Washington, D.C.; her sister, Taffy Valassis, of Denver, Colorado and Elyria, Ohio. She is also survived by various relations in Greece, and by Paul (Stephanie) D'Annibale and family of Rotterdam, New York. Lula is also survived by her two devoted aides who worked tirelessly to make her last days as comfortable as possible. Nancy Keating of Watervliet, New York, was Lula's chief caretaker for eleven years and was outstanding in her devotion and love. Five years ago Colleen Schmitz of Clifton Park joined Nancy as the two main care takers. They were assisted by Stephanie Chattergoon of Schenectady, New York. Their kindness, dedication, and loving care of Lula was wonderful.

The family would like to thank all the people who took time to ease Lula on her life's journey. A special thanks to Deacon Maureen Demler, Father Tom Papazoglakis, Mother Elizabeth Papazoglakis, and Jean Blinstrub, plus others from St. George's Episcopal Church in Clifton Park for the comfort they brought Lula in her final years. Also, our thanks to the Eddy Nurses who helped care for Lula, and especially the nurses and caregivers from Saratoga County Hospice, most especially the wonderful care and kindness of RN Anna Bravata.

The family will celebrate a graveside service on Monday, July 25 at the family plot in Greenridge Cemetery, Saratoga Springs at 1:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers donations in Lula's memory may be made to Saratoga County Hospice, the Capital Region City Mission, or The Clifton Park Ambulance Corps.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

"Tis Summer" by Lula Valassis written in March 1940

Tis summer! Tis July!

Look at the azure sky!

Hear the birds sing

Let your heart with music ring.

Grieve no more. Breath a sigh.

Tis Summer! Tis July!