Barbara Anne Burkert

Barbara was born in Passaic, New Jersey on August 12, 1936 to Elizabeth (Toth) and Frank Jerome Tesarik. Barbara graduated from Fair Lawn High School in 1954 and later attended Farleigh Dickinson College. On December 18, 1955, Barbara married Herbert G. Burkert, and together they had six children; Karen, Gary, Margaret, Allen, Marc, and Ingrid. Herb's career moved them all across the east coast from South Plainfield, New Jersey, Crystal Lake and Glen Ellyn, Illinois, to Newtown, Connecticut. They eventually escaped the snow and joined their two daughters in Phoenix, Arizona in 1996.

Barbara had a successful career as a Realtor, earning several awards including; Women of the year, Professional Women in Business, Woman of the Decade, The "Hometown Hero" award for community service, just to name a few. She was also an honorary lifelong Girl Scout. She was a troop leader for many years and was Chairwoman for the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Connecticut.

After Herb became ill with end stage renal disease, Barbara was active in the Danbury Hospital Renal Support Group, and after his passing in 1998, she became the Activity Director at Scottsdale Shadows Retirement Community, until her retirement in 2003. Barbara recently moved into Brookdale Assisted Living in Chandler after breaking her hip in November. She was busy making a lot of new friends when she died on August 28, 2020.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Herbert, her son Allen and her sister Marybeth Tesarik Libert. She is survived by her five children Karen Guarino (Carmen), Gary (Melissa), Margaret (Trevor Smith), Marc (Theresa), and Ingrid Glasscock (Bryan), niece Nicole Libert Silveira, 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Barbara made friends and a difference in every town she lived. She is greatly missed by her family and friends.

Due to Covid-19, a celebration of life in honor of Barbara will be held next spring or summer.