Obituary of Irma Pesak

Irma B. Pesak, age 98, died peacefully on Easter Sunday morning, April 21, 2019, at Autumn Lake Healthcare at Norwalk, where she had lived for the last eleven years.

A lifelong Norwalk resident, Irma is pre-deceased by her husband, James T. Pesak, her son, James L. Pesak, and sister, Angela B. LaMorte.   She is survived by daughter-in-law Rosi Pesak and grandchildren Tracy and Timothy Pesak of Grosshabersdorf, Germany; daughter Kimberly McClosky and grandson Alex Scarfo, of Texas; and nieces Lisa Eastright, of Lewes, Delaware, Nancy Tillson, of Westport, Connecticut, and Tina LaMorte of Wethersfield, Conn, as well as several great (and great-great) nieces and nephews.

Irma came of age during the Great Depression, and graduated from Norwalk High School in June 1937, and from the University of Connecticut in June 1941 with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture.  She participated in many college activities, including the Archery Club, for which the Norwalk Hour reported her as a “high scorer” in the “Intercollegiate Archery Indoor mail shoot” at UConn.  She was also a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority.  During World War II, Irma volunteered as an ambulance driver on the Home Front.    She married in 1948 and was widowed in 1970.

Although Irma was modest about her abilities, she was truly an artist with flowers, and in her youth, owned Old Orchard Greenhouse.  She later worked for other florists in the area, including Meckel’s, and Bruce’s Flowers.  A long-time member of Christ Episcopal Church in East Norwalk, Irma served on the Altar Guild, and for many years delivered and arranged the flowers every week for Sunday’s service.

An avid reader and crossword-puzzler, she had a friendly rivalry with her brother-in-law Nick LaMorte to see who would get the Sunday NY Times puzzle done first.  

For most of her life, Irma lived in the waterfront community of Covlee, known for its clambakes and other neighborhood activities, in a house designed and built by her contractor husband, overlooking Long Island Sound.  She fed the swans (“the girls”) and always had a beloved dog (or 2) and at least one cat.   She was the treasurer of the Covlee Association for many years.  When her son remained in Germany after his military service ended, Irma visited him and his family many times and together they toured different areas of Europe.  An independent and well-liked woman, Irma was known to say:  “Don’t take life too seriously, you never get out of it alive.”  She is the last of her generation in her local extended family.

The family sincerely thanks the staff at Autumn Lake, Constellation Hospice and the members of Christ Episcopal Church.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church in East Norwalk 2 PM Friday, June 14.   Burial will be private.