Ann Pekala

Ann Pekala, 79, of Nashua, NH, passed away peacefully at her home on July 15, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert, in 2005. Ann was born and raised in Pardeesville, PA, one of six daughters of Marion (Verano) and Nicholas Martino. She is survived by her sons, Lance and Todd, and their wives, Jill Riseborough and Dana Massey, as well as her sister, Patsy Bergamo and husband Karl and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
After graduation from Hazleton High School in 1957, Ann briefly moved to Philadelphia, where she worked in a vacuum tube factory. Ann married Robert Pekala of Hazleton, PA, in April of 1963, whereupon they embarked on Robert's twenty-year career as an officer in the Air Force. Their first posting was in Bangor, ME, followed by Aguadilla in Puerto Rico; Rapid City, SD; Omaha, NE; and Dayton, OH. Ann and Robert immensely enjoyed their life in the military and made many lifelong friends. During Robert's multiple deployments and duties Ann came into her own, developing a wonderful interior design style, running the house, and taking care of Bob, the boys, and the dog.
In 1980, upon Bob's retirement from the Air Force, the family relocated to Nashua. They quickly discovered nearby Deering Lake in Hillsboro and were able to purchase a cabin on the lake. This soon became the family destination for most weekends from spring until fall. Ann and Bob spend a lot of time renovating the cabin and Ann's interior decorating made the place shine. Ann really loved and enjoyed her friends in Nashua. She was a regular at aerobics and always kept in touch with all of the friends made through her classes. Scouring the antique malls with her friends and restoring her finds also became a new passion for her. New Hampshire became the place where she made her home.
Throughout her travels, Ann always made sure to keep in touch with the family back home in Pennsylvania. She could often be found with the phone to her ear, keeping up on all the births, marriages, and goings-on of the whole extended family. Once they relocated to Nashua, quick trips back to PA became a regular enjoyable occurrence.
Ann always brought a sense of style, fun, and family to everyone she met. She will be sorely missed.
Ann was a long-time member of the Parish of the Resurrection Church, 449 Broad Street, in Nashua. Services will be held there at 11AM on Thursday, July 19, followed immediately by a gathering to celebrate her life in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Association or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Private interment will be carried out at a later date in Pennsylvania.
The Cremation Society of NH is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please go to www.csnh.com