Rena Buryakovsky

Rena Ilyinichna Buryakovsky, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, loving wife, and dear friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. She was 92. Born on July 31, 1932, in Baku, Azerbaijan, to Sofia Rodenberg and Illiya Pipus, Rena was an only child whose sharp intellect and determination were evident from an early age. She was admitted to the Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemical Engineering in 1949, where she earned a degree in Geology, followed by a Master’s in Civil Engineering—guided by her father’s advice and driven by her own unshakable ambition. In 1953, during a geological expedition in Armenia, she met fellow geologist and the love of her life, Leonid Buryakovsky. They married in 1954 and built a life together in Baku. They welcomed their first child, a son, Vadim, on June 15, 1955, and a daughter, Inna, on April 21, 1959. While Leonid pursued his Ph.D. in Geophysics, Rena anchored the family with steadfast support, balancing career, motherhood, and community with grace and resilience. Through political upheaval and personal sacrifice, Rena remained a force of optimism and strength. After a decade-long separation from her son, who fled the Soviet Union with his family, she and Leonid were finally able to reunite with him in the United States in 1990, following the fall of Communism. It was a joyful reunion she had long dreamed of—and in which she never lost faith. Starting over in a new country in her late 50s, she embraced her new life with gratitude, becoming a U.S. citizen and quickly building a community around her. She took a position as a Sales Associate at the department store Lord & Taylor, where she quickly became adored by coworkers and customers, many of whom became lifelong friends. Rena never lost her zest for life. She cherished travel, especially with Leonid and close friends. She was known for hosting vibrant gatherings full of laughter, warmth, and lovingly prepared Azerbaijani dishes—all committed to memory and shared generously. Her table was always open and beautifully set. She reveled in bringing people together. Rena had an extraordinary ability to find light in the darkest moments. She endured the challenges of war, displacement, and illness without bitterness, always choosing joy, kindness, and connection—a legacy passed down through generations. She faced every challenge with optimism, dignity, and love. Even in her final years, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease, her spirit never faded. She is survived by her son, Vadim Buryakovsky, and his wife, Marina Kagan; her daughter, Inna Buryakovsky; her sister-in-law, Ludmila Buryakovsky; five grandchildren: Maya Buryakovsky Pomroy and her husband, Matt; Sergey Bukhman and his wife, Veronica; Michael Bukhman and his wife, Xinyi; Larry Buryakovsky and his wife, Tracy; and Eva Buryakovsky; and nine great-grandchildren: Madelyn Pomroy, Emma Pomroy, Lily Bukhman, Sophie Bukhman, Samuel Bukhman, Mila Bukhman, Moses Buryakovsky, Leonid Buryakovsky, and Blythe Buryakovsky. Rena’s memory will live on in the strength and love of the family she built, the lives she touched, and the legacy of endurance she leaves behind. A funeral service was held on Friday, June 27, 2025, in The Sophia and Jack Bender Memorial Chapel at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 7445 Awty School Ln., Houston, Texas, 77055.

Rena Buryakovsky

July 31, 1932 - June 24, 2025