Jana Marie Spacek

Jana Marie (Karas) Spacek, 84, of Bloomfield, beloved wife for 64 years of Vladimir J. Spacek, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 2, 2024.
Jana was born in Prague, Czech Republic, daughter of the late Dr. Frantisek Karas and Marie Karasova, and graduated from Prague Conservatory in 1959 with a degree in piano studies. Jana taught piano at a music school and worked part-time at the Academy of Science before she emigrated to the U.S. in 1969 with her husband and three oldest children. She taught piano to hundreds of students aged six to 18 in the Community Division of The Hartt School at the University of Hartford for 26 years.
Jana was a devout Catholic and faithful communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Bloomfield and sang in the church choir for over 30 years.
Jana was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and dear friend. She will fondly be remembered as a kind and compassionate woman whose family meant the world to her. She was known to her grandchildren as "Babi" and loved having them visit for summer vacations. Jana visited her children and her family in Czech Republic as often as possible. She loved to host holiday celebrations and instill both Catholic and Czech traditions in her children and grandchildren. Jana was friendly and outgoing, and the "life of the party" in a social setting. She was renowned for her cooking and baking, and baked thousands of Christmas cookies for family and friends each year. Jana also enjoyed reading, chronicling family history, and making audio recordings of Czech books.
Jana was an amazing pianist and could play any piece by ear. She instilled the love of music in her children, and loved singing, classical music, and opera. She and Vladimir were Hartford Symphony subscribers for decades as well as regular attendees of the Hartford Stage, Goodspeed Opera, and University of Hartford performances.
In addition to her husband, Vladimir, Jana leaves to celebrate her life, her children, Jana Milbocker and her husband Michael of Holliston, MA, Petr Spacek and his wife Susan Ulrich of Princeton, MA, Ivana Spacek and her husband Ben Stargardter of Windsor, Paul Spacek and his wife Lan of Bridgewater, MA, and Mark Spacek and his wife Kate of Marlborough, MA; her grandchildren, Katrina Milbocker, Luke Milbocker, Paulina Spacek, Isabella Spacek, Joseph Spacek, Nathan Spacek, Kevin Spacek, and Jason Spacek; and many sister and brother-in-laws, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
In addition to her parents, Jana was predeceased by her brothers, Joza, Zdenek, and Frantisek Karas.
Her family will receive friends on Thursday, August 8, 10-11 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial, 11 a.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Wintonbury Ave., Bloomfield.
Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Bloomfield.
Donations in her name may be made to Sacred Heart Church or the Hartford Symphony.