Johanna Bak

Bak, Johanna
GLENS FALLS - Johanna Mary (Breen) Bak, passed away, Sunday, June 1, 2025, surrounded by family, leaving behind a legacy of love, learning, and quiet strength. She was born on July 9, 1944, in Glens Falls, N.Y., to John and Mary Breen, and grew up at 36 Grove Avenue, alongside her sister, Mary Ellen (Breen) Field, and her predeceased brother, the Honorable J. Timothy Breen, a Warren County Family Court Judge.
Johanna was a proud graduate of St. Mary's Academy, where she was a varsity cheerleader and Vice President of her senior class, early signs of the leadership and commitment that would define her life. After graduation, she set out on her own to attend Rosary Hill College (now Daemen College) in Buffalo, five hours from home. It was during a summer break back in Lake George that she met Joseph Bak, sparking a lifelong partnership. After two years at Rosary Hill, she transferred to St. Rose College in Albany to be closer to Joe, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. They married on June 12, 1965, and spent the next 60 years building a life filled with love, devotion, and purpose.
Johanna went on to earn a Master's Degree in Elementary Education from Russell Sage College. She dedicated more than 35 years to teaching, starting in parochial schools and later at Watervliet Elementary School, where she taught both third and fourth grades. Her influence extended well beyond the classroom, she served for four years as Teachers Union President and taught summer sessions to support her children's education. Her commitment to learning was deeply personal as well; she had the rare experience of teaching both of her children, Jeffrey and Carolyn, in fourth grade.
Together, Johanna and Joe created a life grounded in family, tradition, and shared adventure. They camped across the Northeast with their young children and made lifelong memories on the shores of Lake George, Friends Lake, and beyond. For six years, they owned a 24-foot cabin cruiser docked at Lake George, where they spent countless weekends boating and enjoying the water. In retirement, they spent 11 winters on Isla del Sol in Florida and later built their dream home in Queensbury, just miles from Johanna's childhood roots. She took great joy in overseeing its design and construction, and it became a space filled with flowers, books, pictures, and love.
Johanna had many passions. She was an avid reader and an active member of multiple book clubs. She enjoyed painting, gardening, ceramics, and swimming, and even after having both knees replaced, she remained determined to stay engaged with life's joys. She and Joe also shared their home with a succession of cherished cats, who were constant companions and well-loved members of the family.
But nothing gave Johanna more joy than her family. She was a proud and devoted grandmother to Taylor, Justin, Peter, and Joseph. She loved reading to them, cheering from the sidelines at baseball and soccer games, and simply being a loving presence in their lives. Her relationship with each of them was full of care, connection, and unconditional support.
Johanna will be remembered for her kindness, quiet resilience, and unwavering commitment to the people and community she loved. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 60 years, Joseph; her son, Jeffrey and his wife Karyn; her daughter, Carolyn and her husband Jim; her sister, Mary Ellen; her four beloved grandchildren; and the countless students, colleagues, and friends whose lives she touched with grace and heart.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, 448 Aviation Rd., Queensbury.
Family and friend may call from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, June 26, 2025, at Singleton Sullivan Potter Funeral Home, 407 Bay Rd., Queensbury. For those who wish online condolences can be made to the family by visiting www.sbfuneralhome.com.