Galina Andreyevna Brunko

beloved mother, and wife, who passed away on October 8, 2026, in Parrish,

Florida, at the age of 39. This final rest concludes our battle with breast cancer.

She fought this battle the same way she lived every moment of her life:

indomitable, tenacious, curious, beautiful, and magnetic.

Galina Andreevna Brunko was born on December 21, 1986, in the City of

Volzhsky, Volgograd Region, Russia, to her Father, Andrey Alexandrovich

Galvansky, and her mother, Anna Viktorovna Vlasenko. Soon a younger sister,

Natasha, completed the family unit. The sisterhood they shared was among

Galina’s most prized possessions; a value accumulated over decades of consistent,

unconditional, protective love for one another. They primarily spent their

upbringing in the Volgograd Region, where economic hardship, political

uncertainty, and the generational traumas of war were met with resilience,

resourcefulness, playfulness, and close community ties.

In describing Galina her sister Natasha writes, “For as long as I can remember,

Galya was restless, inquisitive, and remarkably quick-witted. Even as a child, she

loved joining the conversations of the grandmothers sitting on the bench,

discussing high prices, medications, and other decidedly adult topics right

alongside them. She taught herself to read by the age of four. At school, Galya

picked things up instantly. Teachers adored her and often overlooked her antics

because of her sharp mind and amazing abilities.”

When Galina was 14 years old her father died. In this struggle, her mother loved

her with a widow’s might. Galina spoke often of the deep gratitude she had for

her mother, and the admiration she had for her resilience, intelligence, work ethic,

and people skills. Galina had the opportunity to share her talented mind and

playful spirit with many caregivers, each giving a new opportunity for her to test

and explore her reality and theirs. It was in these earliest of moments that Galina

began thinking about her future babies. Every thought, feeling, belief, and goal

was heavily flavored with thoughts for her children, and the sacred role she would

play as mother. This passionate desire would fill her with purpose and was given

top priority in every passing stage of life. She passed through these stages with

ever increasing focus on her future children, while maintaining what onlookers

could only describe as an irresistible charm and a relative ease of life. She was

eager to attend University and progressed quickly towards her mother’s shared

goal of a degree.

As soon as she was able, at the age of 18, Galina was baptized by Jeffrey Lockhart

and became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This

marked the start of a rigorous religious pursuit that provided deep healing and

personal insight. It was also the beginning of her relationship with the Lockharts.

At the age of 19 the Lockharts welcomed Galina into their home in California,

USA. Over the next 21 years Bradford and Lisa Lockhart would provide and love

for Galina as their own. With a gratitude beyond expression, she added Jennie

(Daniel) Pittman, Jeffrey (Ariel) Lockhart, Bradford "Scott" (Callie) Lockhart, Curtis

(Megan) Lockhart, Patrick Lockhart, Julianne (Michael) Oberg, and Melanie

(Andrew) Finlinson to her list of siblings. Galina was blessed with many additional

aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, and given the affectionate nickname

Andy. The long walks and foot massages that would later carry her through

pregnancies and our battle with cancer were comforting echoes of dad’s

consistent efforts to show Andy just how genuinely loved, cherished, and

protected she was in their family. The impact of this is profound, and a perfect

reminder, that love conquers all. Galina is proceeded in death, and once again

enters the loving presence of her mom, Lisa Lockhart.

With the added support of the Lockharts, Galina immediately restarted her

pursuits of higher education in her new country and language. She joyously

excelled at both the language and education, graduating from Brigham Young

University with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Information Systems on

August 9, 2012, at the age of 25. She at once began her intended career that

same year with Ernst and Young of Irvine, California. The three years spent

working there, while continuing to live with the Lockhart’s, allowed Galina the

opportunity to pay off her student loans, and buy her first vehicle, brand new and

to her exact specifications. These qualities of expecting the absolute best from

life, working tirelessly to earn it, never compromising on her goals, and being

quick to acknowledge those that made it possible have been constants in her life.

In 2015 Galina returned to BYU in pursuit of her master's degree. During this

time, she met her husband, Jacob. On October 22, 2015, for their 5th date, they

were married at the Fourth District Courthouse of Utah County in Provo, UT; one

week after meeting, and 200 text messages after, “Hi, this is Jake from Tinder :)”

Galina’s decision was deeply inspired by the opportunity to witness the

relationship Jacob held with his daughter, Addison Brunko. In that beautiful

connection Galina saw first the young girl who needed a mother, and then the

father she would honor with the title of husband. Jacob was stupefied to discover

the most incredible soul he had ever encountered, cloaked by the most physically

beautiful woman he had ever seen. He eagerly turned their playful conversation

of marriage into reality before discovering there was a father in Brad Lockhart

who deserved the request for permission, or even that her maiden name started

with a V.

On October 1, 2016, Galina’s lifelong dream to bring life into the world came to

fruition, with the birth of her daughter Avelynn Mae Brunko. Avelynn was soon

followed by Liam Gary George Brunko on May 10, 2018, and Jaxon Brooks

Brunko on September 6, 2021. On August 4, 2018, Jacob and Galina were joined

by family and friends at the Provo City Center Temple where they were sealed as

a family for time and all eternity. With her babies secured Galina happily

welcomed every hour of opportunity to fulfill her goals to meet their every need.

This included advancing her career while simultaneously growing her family. She

enjoyed making many more friends while working at Sallie Mae (April 2016 -

August 2018), Nu Skin (January 2018 – July 2019), The Cadence Group (July

2019 – January 2022), and Linford and Company (January 2022 – September

2022). Every hour worked was with the financial security of her children in mind,

many of those while actively breast feeding (sometimes two at a time). The long

days in front of the computer did nothing to take away from her enthusiasm and

energy for her kids. This included giving them the opportunity to snuggle her as

long as they liked throughout the night, as late into life as our King size bed could

stand. Every beautiful home that she obtained for them could have been reduced

to the one-bedroom apartment of her childhood, and the sleeping pile would be

no different. While meeting all their maternal needs perfectly she provided for

them lavishly.

On October 31, 2022, while still breast feeding our youngest, Galina was

diagnosed with Her 2 positive Breast Cancer, Stage 4 with metastasis in her

lymph nodes, liver, and bones. Consistent with every moment in life, her

immediate thoughts were for her children. Among every other possible

consideration, we decided that a private approach would best protect the kids

from what lay ahead. This decision has removed from so many of you the

opportunity to support the person and people you love so much, and the

adequate time you needed to say goodbye. This unwanted side effect was a part

of the known consequences of our decision, and we thank you for offering these

involuntary sacrifices our decision imposed on you. Know that we consider those

sacrifices sacred as we offer them up to our children and to God as evidence of

our absolute love and appreciation for both.

Thank you to all those who were able to join us in the Celebration of Life held at Groover Funeral Home in Ellenton, FL on October 16, 2026.

Thank you to those who were able to join us at the Memorial Service and Burial held on October 24th at 10 AM at the L.D.S. Chapel of Burlington, WY. That service can still be enjoyed with the following link:

https://youtube.com/live/CuzUZvYlpu4?feature=share

There will be a Celebration of Life held in Galina’s honor at Grove Station (273 N County Blvd, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062), on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

4–7 PM | Drop In Anytime | Dress as You Please