Jennifer Rae Horak

Jennifer Rae Horak, age 48, of Garland, Texas passed away peacefully with her husband, sister and family, and friends by her side on Thursday, January 5, 2023. She was born in Dallas, Texas at Baylor hospital. Jennifer was married to Jason Pali for over 18 years and is preceded in death by her parents, Frank L. Horak and Delores Pokorny Horak, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, John Edward Pali and Thelma Pali and sister-in-law, Jennifer Rochelle Pali of Houston, Texas respectively. She is survived by her husband Jason Pali of Garland, Texas and sister, Julie Horak and her husband Christopher Kobos of Plano, Texas. She is also survived by her aunt Vanora Pokorny Horak, and first cousin Emil Horak Jr., his wife Elizabeth Perez, of Dallas, Texas and second cousins Holley Horak of Eustace, Texas and Ryan Horak of Dallas, Texas and her many lifelong friends.

Jennifer grew up in Garland Texas, graduating from Lakeview Centennial high school in 1991. She was naturally talented and gifted, excelled academically, and graduated early with honors.

Jennifer decided early on she wanted a career that would help others. Audiology was a perfect career. She graduated with honors from University of Texas at Dallas with a masters in 1996 and received her doctorate with honors through the University of Phoenix with an AUD designation in 2004. During her career, Jennifer worked for three different ENT practices serving thousands of patients. She treated each with kindness and understanding; her patients and her work colleagues were her extended family. She always felt very strongly about helping her elderly patients have a higher quality of life through hearing. After retiring in 2020 many stayed in touch with her and showed their appreciation by sending cards and gifts on holidays and for her birthday. She was truly loved and appreciated by those she helped.

Jennifer met the love of her life in Houston, Texas while attending another family member’s wedding. Jennifer and Jason had an instant bond and soon fell in love. Her husband Jason, moved to Dallas in 2004, and they began their life together. Over the years, Jason’s parents moved to Dallas, where Jennifer helped to care for them, as if they were her own parents. Jason’s sister followed some time thereafter. Jennifer and Jason saw to all of their needs making sure they were comfortable and taken care of until their passing.

Jennifer loved to travel and experience the beauty of nature and meeting people. Her smile lit up the room and she was most generous toward others. Together with her sister Julie, they successfully set out and accomplished visiting all 50 states. Each summer a road trip took them to a different region of the country and together they spent time exploring our national parks, camping, shopping and meeting new people. It took six years and thousands of miles driven, and surviving a moose stampede in Yellowstone National Park, but mission accomplished! Jennifer and her husband Jason traveled to Hawaii, New Zealand, Hungary, Prague, and on numerous cruises and trips with family and friends over the years. Jennifer loved the beach, and having the sand beneath her feet, and feeling the warmth of the sun and brought her zest for life everywhere she went. She loved volunteering to help others and often volunteered for Love for Children and for the Dallas Margarita Society to benefit those kids in need.

On the home front, Jennifer loved her fur babies. She believed in helping animals in need and took in countless rescues over the years from Poodles like Irish, Bella and Blaze to Great Danes, Jake and Gracie, adopted Dallas and Avery, and most recently her Great Pyrenees, Zeus.

Taken from us too soon, a celebration of her life will be held Friday, January 27, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church 600 S. Jupiter Rd, Richardson, TX 75081. A rosary for Jennifer will be held from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM. A memorial mass will occur from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Internment into St. Joseph’s Columbarium will occur from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM. A reception will follow at the Church Parrish Hall.

Services will be live streamed, provided by Memorial Masters of Addison, Texas. Those who wish to participate will need the following links to access the live stream.

Below is the livestreaming link for the rosary and memorial mass on Friday, January 27th commencing at 10:00 AM CST:

https://vimeo.com/event/2778239

Below is the livestreaming link for the inurnment service to follow on Friday, January 27th scheduled for 11:30 AM CST:

https://vimeo.com/event/2778267

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Sparkman-Crane.com for the Horak and Pali family.