AUGUSTA DELANE GRAZULIS

Augusta "DeLane" (Burnett) Grazulis, 73, of Troy, passed away Saturday, May 23, 2026, at home. She was born November 08, 1952, in Piqua, Ohio to the late John and Augusta (Cruse) Burnett.

She graduated from Piqua Central High School in 1970, where she served on the corporate board of the Hullabaloo teen nightclub. DeLane was an adventurous, liberated girl of the '60s.  At  4’11” tall, never weighing over 90 lbs. lbs., she took on the world with long black curls, her miniskirts and orange Dodge Dart: her Daddy's true wild child. She loved a good party. Life never tamed her.

She moved to Dayton where she explored life through a series of non-traditional girl jobs from house painter to shelving contractor, building 14 ft. shelving in a 200,000 sq. ft. warehouse. In 1978 she joined the Civil Service and served the National Archive & Record Administration as an Archive Technician. She spent 30 years climbing 15 ft. ladders and hefting 35 lb. boxes, without gaining a pound or inch. She drove a forklift, greeted truckers, became the world’s 2nd best mail clerk, and earned an official Federal Protective Service hat for efficiently finding needed legal files.

In 1976 she married Larry Grazulis and moved to Tipp City where she discovered her gift for growing plants. Larry spent 30 years restoring a farmhouse as she landscaped gardens with unique plants and a large waterfall with various water creatures, many with names. They traveled extensively in Europe and the Far East, collecting beautiful art and built an impressive Pickard China collection. Delane’s light flickered when Larry, her partner in crime and biggest supporter, died in 2018 followed by her dad's passing in 2021. She downsized, eventually moving to Troy. DeLane said that next to Larry and Daddy, she missed riding her tractor.

DeLane's passion since childhood was always animals. In springtime her alarm clock for night-feeding orphan birds, bunnies and squirrels woke the whole house. She loved riding horses, the faster the better. Later, in her own home she sheltered so many homeless dogs and cats they had to reuse names. Bugs never died in her house because she trapped and set them free in nature. She waged a long guerrilla war against her employer’s groundkeeper by feeding and protecting the geese, groundhogs and miscellaneous wildlife living on the property. She wasn't always popular, but she served her causes well.

DeLane loved visiting the zoo, fairs, festivals and particularly having ice cream with her best friend, Bob. She eventually moved to Troy, next to her sister and brother-in-law, Diana and Dave Cornelisse, on the bank of the beautiful Great Miami River that profoundly affected so many of her ancestors over the past 300 years. She loved her most special work sister, Vurniece, who did her best to keep DeLane out of trouble and Jim, her holiday brother, who always brought eggs and cookies. Her last animals were French Bulldog, Stella, and sweet cat Zola, along with visiting birds, squirrels and goats. She shared her last years and final adventures with her loving and devoted friends: Bobbie, who can work 72 hours then head out to a party (as did DeLane in her prime) and sweet Chloe, who delivered a beautiful baby boy into this world as DeLane was passing. DeLane leaves her sister, nieces, nephews and countless cousins from her Burnett, Sharkey, Cruse and Francis ancestors in the Miami Valley. She joins her family in the Columbarium in Forest Hill Cemetery where she planted trees to honor family that passed and faithfully visited weekly. We miss her always-enthusiastic greeting “hey, whatcha doing?”

A private service to honor her life will be held at the convenience of the family at Forest Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are provided for the family through the Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Farm Sanctuary, PO Box 26, Tipp City, Ohio 45371 or Piqua Community Foundation, Attn: Forest Hill Cemetery Fund, PO Box 226, Piqua, Ohio 45365.  Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy, to be provided to the family, may be expressed through jamiesonandyannucci.com.

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