Anne Marie Skiba Urbanik, 83, formerly of New York Mills and currently of Utica, passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at her residence.
She was born in Utica on March 28, 1928, the daughter of George and Mary Grzesiak Skiba, and graduated from Thomas R. Proctor High School. She also attended the Traphagen School of Draping and Design in New York City.
On December 29, 1951, she was married to Edmund Urbanik in St. Stanislaus Church, Utica, a loving union shared for more than 59 years.
Her previous employments included Kitlas Restaurant and Savage Arms, and as a switchboard operator for St. Luke’s and St. Elizabeth Hospitals.
She was also an Administra-tive Assistant at New York Mills Elementary and High School, a Proprietor of Skiba’s Religious and Gift Shop in Utica, and retired as a Library Clerk at SUNY/IT.
She was very active nationwide in baton twirling, having studied under Professor Francis A. Meyers at the Excelsior School of Music, and she was well known in the Old Forge area for organizing Twirling Exhibitions and Parades from the 1980s through the early 2000s.
She was a member of the National Baton Twirling Assoc-iation, founder of the New York State Twirling Hall of Fame and was the director of T.N.T. Twirlers for more than 60 years.
She was a Certified National Baton Twirling Judge of Distinc-tion and prepared award winning teams and Baton Twirling Corps, as well as individual State and National Champions.
She also directed County Fair, New York State Fair and International Miss Majorette and Corps competitions.
Anne was inducted into the National Baton Twirling Hall of Fame at the University of Notre Dame on July 22, 2003.
She was a member of the West Side Seniors, the Parkway Senior Center, and Walter Skiba PLAV Post #20 Ladies Auxiliary, where Anne was Past President, and the Mother Marianne Prayer Group at St. Joseph St Patrick’s Church.
Survivors left to mourn her who will miss her boundless energy, strong will, dreams, “schemes” and opinions, her infectious smile, warm welcomes and never ending love for her family, include her beloved husband, Edmund Urbanik, of Utica; her three daughters and their spouses, Renay and Richard Pence, of Wallkill, NY; Regina and Bradley Boyer, of Rochester, NY; and Alesia and George Desgrosiellier, of Marlborough, MA; her sister, Bertha and husband, Henry Jaworski, of Utica; and her brother, Robert G. Skiba, of Raquette Lake, NY.
She is also survived by her grandchildren; her lifelong friend, Anna Leach, of Marcy; her Goddaughter, Kathy Leach; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her son, Edmund W. Urbanik; son-in-law, Richard J. Bevins; and nine brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 9, at Holy Trinity Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated.
Memorial contributions in her name can be made to Holy Trinity Church, 1206 Lincoln Ave., Utica, NY 13502.
