Trending
STRUTHERS -- Marie A. Karas, 87, formerly of Struthers, passed away peacefully on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
Marie was born in Youngstown, a daughter of the late John and Katherine Blazek Rago.
She was a graduate of East High School and a lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley.
Marie worked as a beautician for several years and even received the "Most Outstanding Student" Award at Choffin Career & Technical Center. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister.
Marie cherished the time she spent with her family and loved boating on Lake Milton. She also loved to play and sing with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to cook and made the best spaghetti sauce and kolachi! Listening to music (especially Engelbert Humperdink) was her favorite pastime. She also loved to dance -- especially the jitterbug -- but if you were going to dance with her, you had better know what you were doing! Marie was quite the card shark and loved playing Five Hundred Bid with her friends.
Marie is survived by her two children, Daniel G. (Toni) Karas of Struthers and Andrea (Dean) Cicoretti of Canfield; three grandsons, Keith (Lauren) Karas, Kevin (Paula) Karas and Korey (Christine Molter) Karas; five great-grandchildren, Ellie, Lila, Sienna, Mickenna and Dani; and two brothers, Vince (Sherri) Rago and Jay (Kelli) Rago. She also cherished many nieces and nephews, each of whom held a special place in her heart.
Besides her parents, Marie was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, George D. Karas, whom she married on Sept. 27, 1959, and who passed away on April 21, 2023; her daughter, Maria Karas; and two sisters, Diane Drummond and Kathy Rago.
We would like to sincerely thank our Brookdale family and Akeso Hospice for the amazing care and compassion they provided during a very difficult time.
Family and friends may call from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home, 270 N. Main St., Poland.
A prayer service will follow at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with Deacon Paul Lisko officiating.
As a tribute to the bright star that Marie was, please wear your favorite colorful outfit. The brighter, the better!
Visit www.beckerfuneralhomes.com to share memories and condolences with Marie's family.
(special notice)