Ann Karakash

A memorial service for Ann (Paun) Karakash, 82, of Hibbing will be held at 11:30 AM, Monday Dec. 30, 2013 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with Fr. Brian Lederer officiating.  Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service with a luncheon to follow.

Ann was born and raised in Ely, MN on January 25, 1931, the daughter of Lucija and Anton Paun.  She died at her daughter's home in Rochester, Minnesota on December 23, 2013 after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Ann attended and graduated from Ely Memorial High School.  She continued her education by attaining degrees from Ely Junior College (AA), University of Minnesota - Duluth (B.S.), South Dakota State University (M.S.) and UMD (doctorate degree).  She worked as a teacher in Oregon, South Dakota and Minnesota accumulating 30 enjoyable years of teaching.

In December 1953, she married Thomas Karakash.  He survives in addition to their five children [Mark (Grygla), Paul (Keewatin), Teresa (Rochester), Peter (Hibbing), and John (Chisholm)], nine grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, as well as her sister, Rose Lackner (Hibbing).  Ann will also be missed by her three nieces, sewing sisters, and numerous friends all of whom she shared many a meal and cup of coffee.

Along with teaching, Ann (and Tom) ran Retreat Lodge on Lake Vermilion.  Ann enjoyed baking "the best buns on Lake Vermilion" for guests from all over the country.  She loved reading and sharing books, swimming, taking walks, and looking at sunrises and sunsets as the light reflected off the water; calling Lake Vermilion "the lake of the sunset glow".  Ann also enjoyed music, and writing short stories.  She shared all of these joys with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ann is preceded in death by her parents, one sister (Mary Spehar), and one grandchild (David Karakash).  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

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