Anna Pylant Pechak's Obituary
Anna Pylant Pechak, 60, was received in Christ’s arms October 27, 2016. She was born June 22, 1956 in Jonesboro, AR to Max and Mary Pylant. She is survived by her husband, Chris Pechak; children, Brad Rutherford and Marianna Vescovo (Nic); grandchildren, Maxwell Vescovo and Eva Dianna Vescovo; mother, Mary Pylant; sister, Amy Williams (Michael). She was preceded in death by her father, Max Pylant and sister, Nancy Bumpus. She was a loving wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother. Her marriage to Chris of 16 years was one full of mutual love and devotion. They recently spent their 15th wedding anniversary in Hawaii which was a dream come true for Anna. Her two children Brad and Marianna were her greatest pride. She never missed an opportunity to share how proud she was of them and to remind them of her love. Anna witnessed the birth of her grandson, Max, in November 2013 and shared her love of music with him nearly every time they were together. Over the past two weeks, she got to meet and hold her granddaughter, Eva Dianna, which brought her immense joy during the depths of her cancer battle. She graduated from Wooddale High School and Memphis State University. She was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. She taught elementary education for 38 years and was a third generation educator, teaching most recently at Richland Elementary School. She was sought after by eager parents to enroll their child in her classroom, beloved by the children she taught, respected by her peers as she acquired her Masters and then National Board Certification. She was long regarded as a major influence in the lives of the students that passed thru her classroom over the years. Anna’ spirit was one of artistry as she foremost thought of herself as a songwriter and songstress. She took everyday experiences and put them to lyrics as she worked out musical scores on her baby grand piano or strummed with her guitar. She was a member of the Memphis Area Songwriters Association where she supported her fellow songwriters with encouragement and enthusiasm. Her greatest musical accomplishment was seeing to fruition her original song and YouTube video “Imaginary Island,” themed as an imaginary vacation to a beach paradise away from the stresses of daily life, in which she story boarded and starred. Anna was at heart a child of God and was deeply committed to Christ. She converted to Catholicism in recent years finding beauty in the faith’s rituals and spiritual foundations. She began each morning with daily readings of favorite Bible passages and had a personal relationship with the Lord. Anna found peace in the gardening of her yard which was influenced with the help of her mother Mary and the plethora of blooms each year showed this. Every spring brought excitement for Anna as her daffodils began to blossom. She was elegant and physically striking with her signature long red hair, beautiful beyond compare as it was her heart’s beauty that shown through to all. She epitomized women’s fashion, and it was joked she could easily be a Chico’s model. She was witty, and could deliver an English accent and impersonate Katherine Hepburn to the delight of her friends. She loved fiercely and was a devoted, loyal friend. A memorial mass will be held at 4 p.m. with a Rosary at 3:15 p.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church on Wednesday, November 2. The family will receive friends and celebrate her life following the mass from 5-8 p.m. in the Clunan Center at St. Louis Catholic Church.Arrangements have been In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN 38119. (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life….Behind the Stone Wall.”
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