Shirley Marie Pekarek

Shirley Pekarek, 79 year old resident of Little Falls died Monday, October 22 at her home in Little Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 29 at 11:30 A.M. at St. Marys Catholic Church in Little Falls. A visitation will be held from 3:00-5:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 28 and from 10:00-11:00 A.M. on Monday all visitation times will be held at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service. The parish prayers will be said at 4:30 PM on Sunday at the funeral home.

Shirley Marie (Cuchna) Kinsella Pekarek was born March 31, 1939 in Browerville, Minnesota to the late Walter and Clara (Stephan) Cuchna. She attended St. Peters School in Browerville for her first eight years and graduated from Browerville High School. She established residence in Morrison County in 1958. Shirley was united in marriage to Thomas Jerome Kinsella on May 6, 1961 at St. Peters Catholic Church of Browerville, Minnesota. Thomas passed away on September 1, 1967. Shirley met James Pekarek and they married on June 1, 1968 at St. Marys Catholic Church in Little Falls, Minnesota. Shirley worked at the National Tea Grocery store in Little Falls from 1958 1960, at First National Bank in Little Falls as a book keeper from 1960 1961 and as a housekeeper from 1979 2001. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Moose Lodge. Shirley enjoyed playing cards, dice games, bingo, walking, planting flowers, going to movies, visiting her son Craig, bus tours and painting ceramics. Her favorite places included Colorado Springs, Colorado, Minnesotas North Shore , and Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. She treasured her time spent with family, especially getting together for special occasions and holidays. Her favorite flower was a rose and her favorite color was pink.

Shirley had these words to share with her friends and family: I want my family , relatives, and friends to remember me for all the family moments we had and all the good meals we shared and fun places we visited. I leave you all with much love in my heart. Remember me in your prayers.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Craig (Celeste Bignell) Kinsella of Nelson, British Columbia; grandsons, Josh Kinsella, Trent Kinsella; granddaughter, Karli Kinsella and Juniper Kinsella; step-sons, Kelly Pekarek of Berthoud, Colorado, Scott Pekarek of Little Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Thomas Jerome Kinsella; second husband, James Pekarek; son, Thomas M. Kinsella; and sister, Esther Ringwelski.