After a life of love and quiet grace, Shirley Annita Karas of Hillside, IL has passed.
The following words honor a life that mattered to many.
Family is the thread that runs through every story.
Shirley Annita KarasBorn October 24, 1935, in Seymour, Missouri, Shirley lived a long and fulfilling life most recently residing in Plainfield, Illinois. Surrounded by the loving presence of her children, she was welcomed to the kingdom of heaven on May 4th, 2026.Shirley was the youngest of nine children, raised on a fruit farm in Missouri. Over the years, she held many roles: assistant manager at the dime store, a hospital candy striper, and a high school lunch lady. Yet her most cherished titles were those of wife, mother, grandmother and “GiGi”.She met her beloved hubby, Daniel Joseph Karas, while he was stationed in Missouri with the Army. They were joyfully married in Missouri on May 11th, 1958. Shirley often said, there was only one man for her in this world, and that man was Dan. Soon after their marriage, they made their home in Chicago, Illinois. Shirley spent the rest of her life in the Chicagoland area.Together, Shirley and Dan raised three children, Daniel Karas Jr., Anita (Robin) Voss and David Karas. Her family continued to grow to include her three grandchildren, Danielle (Ralph) Debulgado, Michelle (David) Ziegenhagen and Michael (Veronica) White Jr. and six great-grandchildren Tatum White, Teagan White, Owen Ziegenhagen, Anderson Debulgado, Darren Debulgado and Elliana White.While she may have been petite in stature, Shirley’s personality filled every room. Shirley loved music, the Cubs, TV game shows and most of all, her family. Known affectionately as “Funky G”, she was often the life of the party! She took great pride in always making sure her hair was perfectly styled, her pancake foundation makeup was just right and of course, her nails were always painted in her signature light, shimmer pinky-purple.A devout Christian, Shirley faithfully attended Lisle Bible Church most of her adult life. She was a woman of deep faith who prayed often for those she loved and continually sought to bring out the best in others.She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Annie Farr (née Rost); her loving husband, Daniel Joseph Karas; her son, Daniel Joseph Karas Jr., and siblings, Hazel, Veda, Thelma, Everett, Paul Leslie, Ival, Maxine and Charles.Visitation will be held at Hursen Funeral Home on Saturday, May 9th, 2026 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and burial to follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, IL.
