SALEM - Melaine L. (Meler) Czupryna, 92, of Salem, died peacefully on November 17, 2013, in Newport News, VA., where she was in temporary residence.
She was born December 13, 1920, in Salem, to Ignatius and Maryanne (Akatyshewski) Meler.
She graduated from Salem High School, was an acclaimed classical pianist, and worked as a bookkeeper at General Electric Company and Daniel Lowe & Co.
She married Walter S. Czupryna of Ipswich on May 1, 1949, in Salem.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased in death by her husband of 39 years, her siblings Thomas S. Meler, Helen J. Manning, Irene Hojnowski, Thaddeus Meler, Stanley Malor, and her grandson Chad Indra.
She is survived by her children Daniel and Loretta Czupryna of Statesville, NC, Pamela and Nick Indra of Newport News, VA., Gary and Mary Teresa Czupryna of Plymouth, MA, and Peter Czupryna of Boston, six grandchildren and six great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Melaine was a lifelong communicant of St. John the Baptist Church in Salem and worked tirelessly in support of the Church as a member of the Bingo committee. She was well traveled, a fixture at Salem’s polling booths at election time, a very active member of the Salem Seniors Club and an officer of the Polish Falcons of America Nest 188 in Salem and was recently awarded with the Legion of Merit for dedicated service to that organization. Most importantly, she was a supportive and unconditionally loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
A Mass of Christian burial was held at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Newport News, VA, on November 21, 2013. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 28 St. Peter St., Salem, at 10 am on November 25, 2013, followed by a committal service at New Highland Cemetery, Ipswich. Memorial donations can be made to the Starzynski Scholarship Fund, Polish Falcons of America, 381 Mansfield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15220, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105. For on line condolences, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.