Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

My earliest memory of Zdenek was when I was 6 years old. My family had emigrated from Czechoslovakia, just as The Juriks had before us. I grew to call our extended Czech family "The Circle of Czechs." Per an eccentric Czech tradition, the men would playfully "whip" the women and chase them around in return for candy and treats. Every Easter, without fail, Zdenek would visit us with his braided whip and squirt bottle of water. Though I yelled and hollered, I always looked forward to the fun, and to running away from Zdenek and his tricks. I will miss his passion and his dedication to carrying out this tradition. He did everything with his whole heart, and I will think of him often, especially at Easter.