Karol Suzanne (Kraus) Barone

Karol (Kraus) Barone, 88, of Sandusky, Ohio, passed peacefully February 22, 2024, in Providence Care Center with family at her side and in the care of people who loved her, following an eight year battle with dementia.  Karol was born April 4, 1935, to Kathryn and Russell Kraus in Sandusky, Ohio, and graduated Sandusky High School in 1953. Following graduation, she did a three-day stint at Ohio University, but called her father to come and take her home, claiming to be “stalked.”  Three years later, she fell in love with and in 1956 married her “stalker” Joseph Barone, and they enjoyed 32 years of marriage until he passed in 1988.  Karol was an amazing mom, grandma, homemaker, wife, daughter and caretaker, never turning down an opportunity to help wherever and however she could.

Her family was always her priority. She was a Girl Scout and 4-H leader to her daughters and a Cub Scout leader to her son, a PTA mom, class chaperone, and neighborhood party planner. She organized neighborhood Halloween parties and Easter egg hunts, and after a snowy day of sledding or ice skating, there would always be hot chocolate and cookies to warm our bodies and souls. She never met a child she didn’t love, including her nieces and nephews, and her generosity of spirit was recognized by all. When it came to loving others, Karol cast a wide net. She enjoyed gardening, baking, and playing pinochle, meeting once a month to play cards with a special group of ladies, some she had known since her childhood.

Later in life, Karol worked at her in-laws’ restaurant in the kitchen at Barone’s Beer Barrel, then later, at Hills (Ames) Department store where she was a soft lines manager for many years until retiring in 2002.

She was predeceased by her parents, husband, brother Russell Kraus Jr., and son, John Russell (JR) Barone. Surviving her are her daughters Kay (Don) O’Flaherty and Valerie (Mike) Parritt; seven grandchildren, Kristen (Dakota) Day, Erin (Aimo) Pollard, Kelly (Jesse) Teynor, Lee (Brandi) O’Flaherty, Kelsey (Sarah) O’Flaherty, Michael Parritt and Kassie Parritt, and five great grandchildren, Reilly, Kylie, Conor, Penelope and Oliver.  Nothing gave her greater joy than seeing her children and grandchildren.

We would like to recognize and thank Karol’s caregivers and staff at Providence Care Center for the exceptional care and devotion they granted our mom during her stay these last three years. To Emmy Erwin, thank you for loving Mom as we did. She truly benefited from being “your gal.”

Visitation will be held Thursday, February 29, 2024 from 4-7 pm at the David Koch Funeral and Cremation Services, 520 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky. Prayers will be recited Friday morning, March 1, 2024, at 9:40 am at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 510 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky.  Fr. Monte Hoyles officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Sandusky.  

In keeping with her love for all animals, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Erie County, 1911 Superior Street, Sandusky, OH 44870.  In lieu of a donation, Mom would be pleased if you fed a stray in her memory.

Your memories and words of comfort may be shared with Karol's family at davidfkoch.com.

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