Christina A. "Chrissy" Pekalla

AUSTINTOWN - Christina A. Pekalla, 39, passed away Saturday evening, Aug. 21, 2021, at the Cleveland Clinic following a lengthy illness.

Christina, who was affectionately known to all as “Chrissy,” was born Dec. 17, 1981, in Youngstown, a daughter of James and Elaine English Beck, and lived in this area for most of her life.

Chrissy was a 2000 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and later received a cosmetology license.

Locally, she worked for Sandy Bee’s Dance & Gymnastics Studio, ATA Black Belt Academy, and in the Canfield Schools with special needs kids. She also worked at Osteens Salon in Columbus, and she was a house parent caring for foster children in Arkansas at Christ’s Home and Arkansas Baptist Ranch. Additionally, she worked in building maintenance at Arkansas Baptist.

She was a member of Good Hope Lutheran Church in Boardman.

Chrissy leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 16 years, Jasen Pekalla, whom she married April 23, 2005; three children, Gabriel, Dreylin, and Svana; her parents, James and Elaine Beck of Austintown; a brother, Michael (Amanda) Beck of New Middletown; her grandfather, Richard (Judy) Beck of Canfield; her mother-in-law, Karen Pekalla of Austintown; her father-in-law, Michael Pekalla of Austintown; brother-in-law, Jim (Jill) Barnhart of Bowling Green, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Holly (Eric) Humphrey of Austintown; three nieces, Riley Beck, Maddie Humphrey, and Zeita Beaver; a nephew, Noah Humphrey; and Jasen’s grandmother, Arlene Pekalla.

Her grandmother, Betty Beck; maternal grandparents, Henry and Olga English; an aunt, Shirley LaFleme; an uncle, Raymond LaFleme; Jasen’s grandfather, Theodore Pekalla; and Jasen’s maternal grandparents, Charles and Florence Pavlisen, preceded Chrissy in death.

Family and friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28, at Good Hope Lutheran Church, 98 Homestead Dr., Boardman, where a private family funeral service will follow at 11 a.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kinnick Funeral Home in Youngstown.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Chrissy's memory to the American Cancer Society through https://donate3.cancer.org/