Born:

Mina Callahan Krakoviak, age 78, of Oak Ridge, passed away Wed., April 8, at Methodist Medical Center.

She was born and raised in Marion, SC. Mina graduated High School one year early and attended Limestone College from 1948 -1952. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Chemistry. She moved to Oak Ridge in 1952 to work for Union Carbide as a chemist at K-25 where she met and soon after married, Anthony Krakoviak. Mina and Tony were married 55 years. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Mina stayed at home after the birth of her 2 children and was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church and was a Sunday School teacher many years. Mina was an excellent bridge player achieving the Life Masters level and volunteered has a bridge teacher for the YMCA. She was also an avid wildflower gatherer with a beautiful backyard garden collection of wildflowers from all over East Tenn. Her other pastimes included embroidery and jigsaw puzzles.

Mina was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Katherine Callahan. She is survived by her husband, Tony Krakoviak; children, Sally Krakoviak Bizer and husband, Mike of Annandale, VA; Sam Krakoviak and wife, Margo of Knoxville; sister Sarah Turner of Camden, SC; grandchildren, Mikaela, Sarah, Julia Bizer and Robert Krakoviak; and several loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday April 11, 2009 2:00pm at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge. The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:30pm prior to the service at the church. Graveside services will be held Monday April 13, 2009 10:00am at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

In lieu of flower the family has requested donations be made to the American Heart Association or the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge.