Elizabeth M Polacek

Elizabeth Polacek passed away at home on November 16, 2025. 

Elizabeth Margaret (Betty) Polacek was born June 26, 1928 in Basking Ridge NJ to Steven and Katherine Senkarik, both of whom were Slovak Lutheran immigrants. Betty had a older sister Anne (born 1924) and a younger brother Steven (born 1933).

Betty attended primary school in Basking Ridge. In 1938 her family moved to Newark, NJ. The Senkarik family joined Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church, and Betty was confirmed there in 1940. Betty graduated from West Side High School in Newark in 1944 and Drake College of Business in 1945. She began working at the RCA office in Harrison NJ and worked there until 1956.

Betty married Martin Polacek on September 18, 1954 and joined Zion Lutheran Church. They lived in Hillside NJ. Son Steven was born in 1956 and Gerald in 1958. In 1961 Marty's job was transferred  to  Clark, NJ and he and his family moved to Clark, where they lived for the next 27 years.

In 1984, Marty accepted an early retirement package. In their free time, he and Betty volunteered at Zion Lutheran Church to help aged or infirmed members with transportation to medical appointments and shopping.

In 1988 Marty and Betty moved from Clark to Brick NJ. In their retirement years, they were active in bowling and boccie at their community. Marty and Betty remained members of Zion Lutheran church and attended services there as long as they were physically able. Marty passed away in 2024.

Betty is survived by her son Steven, and her son Gerald and his wife Donna. She is also survived by several nephews, nieces, and god-children.

Visitation will be on Thursday November 20th from 9AM – 11AM with an 11AM service at Weatherhead Young Funeral Home- 885 Mantoloking Road Brick, NJ 08723. Burial will follow at Hollywood Memorial Park- 1500 Stuyvesant Ave., Union, NJ 07083.