Desley Zbehlik
Desley
Zbehlik (nee Collinge), 94, passed away on September 9, 2017, after living with slowly progressive Alzheimer’s dementia for many years. She was born on August 16, 1923, in Auckland, New Zealand, to her loving parents Sara Ruby (nee Rodger) and John Henry Collinge. They lived on beautiful Arney Road in Remuera, Auckland, and Desley attended Epsom Girls Grammar School. She completed her degree in Food Science at Otago University, Dunedin, NZ, and worked as a dietician in hospitals in NZ, England, and the US.
Desley loved nature: mountains, woods, gardens, and beaches, and spent time exploring with her family and dear friends. During a trip to the South Island of NZ to hike the Milford Track, Desley met Jaroslav (George) Zbehlik, a Czech immigrant visiting from Australia. They married in 1958 in London. Desley budget-traveled extensively throughout Europe, North America, and the South Pacific before and after marriage. The couple settled near friends in Trenton, NJ, to raise their family.
When Dana, Pam, John, and Alicia were born, Desley devoted her life to them. She was PTA president, volunteered in the school library and filled the house with carton towers of Girl Scout cookies as the annual Cookie Chair. She returned to work outside her home so that her children could attend The Peddie School, a decision that profoundly enriched their lives. Desley and George established the Pam Zbehlik Memorial Fund at Peddie when Pam died suddenly of an arrhythmia at age 18. To be near family, Desley and George moved to Bow, NH, in 2000, and Desley moved to the Upper Valley after George’s death in 2015.
Desley’s dignity and beautiful nature were legendary, and even as her Alzheimer’s advanced she appreciated simple things: flowers, the sky, animals, and cars. She loved ice cream. Although unfailingly gracious, she was an acute observer and had a quick sharp wit. Dementia was never able to destroy her gratitude. Her final words were “thank you.”
Desley is survived by her children; Dana Zbehlik Lasko of Cambridge, MA; John Zbehlik of Bow, NH; Alicia Zbehlik and her husband Herminio Delgado, of Lebanon, NH; and her six grandchildren: Daniel Lasko, Michael Lasko, Emily Zbehlik, Zachary Zbehlik, Laura Desley Zbehlik, and Artemisia Delgado. Her husband of 57 years, Jaroslav Zbehlik, and her daughter Pam Zbehlik, pre-deceased her. Desley was deeply loved and she is missed.
Donations can be made to the Friends Program, Concord, NH. A memorial celebration in planned for noon, Sunday, October 29, 2017, at the NH Audubon Center 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord NH.