Judy Ann Zakareckis passed away peacefully on August 3, 2022 at age 66 years old. She was born on November 17, 1955 in Grand Island, Nebraska, the third and youngest daughter of Clement Anthony (Tony) Zakareckis and Maxine Yvonne Scheel (Haws).
Shortly after Judy was born in 1955, Judy and her two sisters, Marilyn and Antoinette came down with German measles. Marilyn and Antoinette weathered through it fine, but Judy was left with severe brain damage due to the intermittent high fever and temporary deafness. Though Judy’s hearing would eventually return she would always have little speech and require constant care. Maxine tenderly cared for Judy and managed to keep her at home.
In November of 1973 Tony and Maxine were divorced and Judy and her mom soon moved to Utah. Both Maxine and Judy went to work at Deseret Industries where her mom met her step father, Carl G. Haws. They were married on December 2, 1976 in the Provo LDS Temple. Judy lived with them in Provo and then moved with them to Springville where she lived with them until she became paralyzed at age 51.
The search to find a “place for Judy” was heart-wrenching for her family and particularly her mom. And when her mom found the wonderful people at Medallion Manor in Provo they became an answer to many prayers. Judy loved her almost 16 year experience at Medallion Manor and made many special needs friends and she loved staff members as she did her family. When Judy’s final days on earth came, she was able to be “at home” with her Medallion family who not only comforted Judy, but manifested great tenderness and care for her sister, Marilyn and her family.
Judy LOVED TRAINS! Her affinity for them started when she was 3 years old in Nebraska where the trains were always coming and going and it lasted her entire life. Her room seemed to always have a good collection of trains in all varieties. But she kept one favorite that she took everywhere and couldn’t leave without having it under her arm. The challenge for her birthday and Christmas gifts was to find one that she didn’t already have. When she passed away, those close to her envisioned her catching an amazing ride on an express train to heaven to join her beloved mother and family. What a joyous reunion it must be!
Judy was preceded in death, by her parents, step-father, Carl G. Haws, and her sister, Antoinette Hird (Greg). She is survived by her sister, Marilyn Joyce Harroun (Michael) of Pleasant Grove, Utah.
Funeral services will be Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Walker Mortuary, 187 South Main, Spanish Fork, Utah. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery, Springville, Utah.
1 Condolence for Judy Ann Zakareckis
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Stephen & Marie Haws says
August 11, 2022 at 1:01 amWe remember how much Maxine loved and cared for Judy even when Maxine was starting to lose her own mobility in the nursing home. She was always giving us updates on what Judy had been up. Stephen remembers visiting when he was little and how much Judy loved trains. He remembers her room full of big trains, little trains, and everything in between. He remembers how she would give a little smile and wave at him by wiggling her fingers. We’re grateful for special people like Judy!