Elizabeth I. Pekarek, age 89, a resident of Colorado Springs since 1964 and formerly of Czechoslovakia and New York City, passed away suddenly in Mesa, Arizona. She was a retired hairdresser, loving wife, mother and friend.
Elizabeth Ingeborg Geschka was born on April 11, 1924 in Komotau, Czechoslovakia to the late Adolf and Margaretha (Christen) Geschka. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States of America in 1944 at the age of 20. She married Frank Pekarek on Aug. 26th, 1943. Frank preceded her in death in 1998. She later married David Burlingame on March 11th, 2000.
Elizabeth and Frank had owned and operated The Fashion Plate in Manhattan and The Flair in Eastchester beauty salons in New York City prior to moving to Colorado. In 1965 they purchased the Southgate Beauty Salon and operated it until they retired in 1983. Elizabeth enjoyed cooking and her specialty was German dinners. She also loved to crochet afghans and presented them as gifts throughout the years. She will be best remembered for her beautiful paintings which she also presented as gifts and some of which still grace their home.
She is survived by her husband, David Burlingame of Milford, Michigan and Mesa, Arizona; and her son: John (wife, Eileen) Pekarek of Colorado Springs.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on Monday at the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, May 14 at the Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel. Entombment will follow at the Mausoleum.
Memorials in her name may be made to National Jewish Health, P.O. Box 17169, Denver, Colorado 80217-0169 or at Donate@NJHealth.org
She will be dearly missed.