Obituary of Galina Kraft

Galina Kraft, age 94, passed away at the Guthrie Cortland Medical Center on September 2, 2020. She was born on December 17, 1925, in Rostov, Russia, the much-loved only child of the late Peter and Natalia Khrustaleva Andrejtschuk. Galina immigrated to the United States in 1957 after living many years in central Europe where she was an acclaimed vocal soprano and classical pianist, having performed on stage and recorded several record albums. After arriving in the U.S., Galina completed her Master's Degree in Library Science at Syracuse University and spent over two decades as a book cataloger at Cornell University's Olin Library, where she paired her love for research with her command of both Slavic and Germanic languages. Throughout her life, Galina continued to enjoy music, as well as reading, sewing, knitting and crocheting. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her growing family. Galina is missed and survived by daughters Natalie (Marc) Sawyer and Irene Hawes, granddaughters Jennifer (Jonathan) Phelps, Kathryn (Timothy) Hamilton, and Michelle (Aaron) Kaye, along with seven great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. A private graveside service will be held at the South Hill Cemetery in Ithaca on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.