Obituary of Herta Stephanie Sharak

Herta Eichlinger Heid Sharak, passed away August 30, 2020, at St. Josephs Hospital. Herta lived in Syracuse, NY near her sons and sister. Born in 1931, in a Sudetenland German village, then known as Mutten, Czechoslovakia. She recalled many trying events during World War II such as: the English planes strafing her villagers; and evading atrocities as her village was invaded.  Following the war in 1945, the invading Russians pushed her family into Austria. In 1946 her family was moved to Baiertal, Germany, where she learned printing skills.

In 1956, she joined her sister Mitzi, in Syracuse, after which she achieved citizenship. Herta worked at Syroco, Hygrade, then, proudly at Community General Hospital as an operating room technician. While working at the hospital she trained as a hair stylist at Le Ponto Beauty School.  After retirement, she found many enjoyable moments working with her sister, Mitzi, as a hair stylist.  Herta’s sons were the joy of her life, enjoying every opportunity to be part of their lives along with her sister Mitzi.

The daughter of Karl and Johanna Eichlinger, Herta is survived by sister Mitzi (Maria Eichlinger Gallian), sons Norman and Frank Heid, husband Carl Sharak, and several nieces and nephews in Germany. 

St. Joseph’s Hospital has arranged with Connect Life to donate organs in hope of helping others. This is driven by the fine support from the Syracuse medical community, especially St. Josephs Hospital. 

As a lifelong Catholic, Herta is a devout communicant at Our Lady of Hope in Syracuse. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 10th at 10:30AM, at Our Lady of Hope in Syracuse. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Online condolences for Herta's family may be left on the funeral home website.