Obituary of Fannie Karsai

Fannie Karsai died peacefully at St. Clare’s Hospital, Dover, entering eternal life Sunday, February 7, 2021.  Fannie frequently said “when the door opens, you got to go through it”.  Those of us on this side of the door, will miss her smile and those special expressions we called “Fannie-isms”.

Fannie was born in Brooklyn, New York to Biagio and Antonia (ne:Calamia) Accardo on May 11, 1938.  Fannie was one of 2 daughters to bless the Accardo Family.

Named after her grandmother Sarafina, “Fannie” was the youngest child in the Accardo Family.  As a young woman she worked with her family in the coat manufacturing business, sewing buttons on new coats as they were made. In 1959, she met and married the love of her life, Ferenc Karsai, after a brief courtship.  Frank was from Budapest, Hungary and so Fannie learned to cook Hungarian specialties under Frank’s tutelage. After marriage, Frank and Fannie moved to the Dover/Rockaway area. Her favorite vocation was that of mother and homemaker.  In 1963 the couple was blessed with the birth of their first child Denise Ann, followed in 1967 by their son Frankie, who died after only 3 months of life. The little family was heartbroken.  Joyfully, in 1969 Lisa Rose was born and their family was complete. 

In 1994 Frank died suddenly, leaving Fannie to care for her two special daughters.  After much soul-searching, it was decided that the girls were now old enough to begin their adulthood, learning to live more independently: And so Denise and Lisa moved into group homes. Fannie was, for the first time in her life, alone.  This was a journey for Fannie that came with many challenges, obstacles to overcome, and new paths to forge. She moved from the comfort of her lovely home to a much smaller place, taking with her the memories of her beloved husband and daughters.  After many twists and turns, she grew stronger and more self-confident making a new life for herself. She was kind to everyone she met and quickly made new friends in her new environment.  After a time, she was happily re-united with her daughters, visiting them frequently, always carrying them in her heart. 

In 2016, Fannie moved to her new apartment which she came to love, near her parish church of St. Clement, Rockaway NJ, just blocks away from her youngest daughter’s home. Fannie made many friends in her new home. Her favorite pastime was bingo. She was an enthusiastic player, always prepared for a game, dimes for play ready alongside her quarters for laundry, stashed in her walker.  Although Fannie had difficulty walking in her later years, she loved to dance.  Any time music was playing, Fannie could be seen rocking to the rhythm. She loved the holidays and celebrations of all kinds.  Although life gave her many lemons, she managed to make lemonade.  She will be greatly missed by those that came to know and love her.  She leaves joyful memories to her beloved daughters Lisa and Denise Karsai, dear friends Peg Feyl and Terri Rao. Donations in Fannie’s memory can be made to St. Clement Church Food Pantry.