Mrs. Elena Shlapak

January 21, 1928 - January 3, 2019

Elena Shlapak, of Cortland NY, passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Thursday, January 3, 2019. Born in Moscow, Russia on January 21st, 1928, she moved to Odessa, Ukraine with her family in the early 1930’s. There she attended the Odessa Art School. After graduating, Elena became a pattern maker and costume designer, working on productions at the Bolshoi Theater. Elena met her husband of 67 years, Anatoly Shlapak, at the Odessa Art School. They shared a deep passion for the arts and enjoyed many adventures throughout their life. In 1979, Elena and her husband moved to the United States and settled in New York City where Elena worked for a famous fashion designer as a pattern maker. Her energy and charismatic personality touched the hearts of all those around her. She is survived by her daughter Tatiana, and her granddaughter Elena. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 2:00pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 49 Hamlin St., Cortland, NY 13045. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or to Hospicare of Ithaca, NY.