Karen Burgess Peak

Karen Burgess Peak, 70, of St. Augustine, the beloved wife of David Peak, passed away on Oct. 14, 2013, at Branford Hospice. Born in Hartford, Conn., daughter of the late Frederick and Virginia (Schweiger) Burgess, she grew up in West Hartford, Conn. She worked at Connecticut Mutual for several years before her retirement in 2000. Karen loved being with her family and friends whether she was playing games, scrapbooking, walking the beach or golfing with the women"s league. She loved celebrating the holidays, especially Christmas, at her home. Her grandchildren were the light of her life.

In addition to her loving husband David, she leaves her daughter, Diane Peluso and her husband John of Longmeadow, Mass.; her son, Jeffrey Peak and his wife Jennifer of West Hartford, Conn.; her grandchildren, Noelle, Jack, Savannah, Ryan and Joshua; her siblings, Don Burgess and his wife Claudia, George Burgess and his wife Karen, Barbara Phillips and her husband Floyd, Darlene Lisella and her husband Michael, Dwight Burgess and his wife Linda, James Burgess and his wife Kari and Frank Burgess and his wife Ginny; her goddaughter, Roxanne Serohi; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brother Richard Burgess.

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home, 20 Bonair Ave. in Newington, Conn. Her memorial service will take place at South Congregational Church in Hartford at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name may be made to SOS (Save Our Steeple) at South Congregational Church, 277 Main Street Hartford, CT 06106 or to the Smilow Cancer Center at Closer to Free Fund, P.O. Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519-0611. To share a memory with her family, please visit us at www.newingtonmemorial.com.