NORMA ZACHARAKIS Obituary

August 10, 1932- December 15, 2008
Norma Jean Zacharakis died peacefully at home after battling breast cancer and Parkinson's disease for seven years. She was born on a ranch in Lustre, Montana on August 10, 1932 to Louis & Edna Hallauer. During the Great Depression, the family moved to Deer Creek, Minnesota when Norma was 3 years old where they worked a dairy farm. After graduating from high school Norma moved back to Montana where she worked and lived with her aunt. In 1953, she met Ted in Billings and they married in 1954 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They moved to Colorado Springs in 1963. After her three boys were in school, Norma graduated from Pikes Peak Community College and attended UCCS. After college, Norma worked at Colorado College and Fountain Valley School where she was the Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs. After 15 years at Fountain Valley, she retired in 1991. Norma and Ted were avid hikers with the Saturday Knights hiking group and Friends on Foot where they developed lifelong friendships. Her motto was the three H's, Happiness, Hiking and Health. Norma enjoyed the scenery and vistas of Pikes Peak from her sun room. She enjoyed her close friends, Crown Ridge Drive neighbors and members of Gateway Presbyterian Church who were helpful and provided compassion during her long illness. Norma is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ted Zacharakis and their three sons, Jeffrey, Theodore Jr., and Andrew, her sister Emma Lou Irons of Deer Creek. Norma was blessed with nine grandchildren, Jemma, Frances, Reuben, George, David, Lillie, Sophie, Darius, Demetri and two step grandchildren Molly and Brendan. She built a loving family with beautiful children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother Alton and sister Donna. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Pikes Peak Hospice or the American Cancer Society. Memorial services will be held at Gateway Presbyterian, 731 Castle Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904, on December 26 at 11AM, followed by a reception at the church.