Obituary of Klara Karrais

Klara Karrais, 92, passed into our Lord's care on May 14, 2020. She was known to all who loved her as Oma. Born in Pomaz, Hungary, she met and married Josef Karrais in Hambrücken, Baden, Germany. They emigrated to Fort Erie, Canada, and then to Hamilton, NJ. Daughter of the late Franz and Elisabeth (Plank) Zirkelbach, wife of the late Josef J. Karrais, and sister of the late Otto Zirkelbach, she is survived by her sister Elizabeth [Franz] Ofner of Hamilton, her brother Franz Zirkelbach of Germany, and her 6 children: Christa [Nick] Varacalli of Cudjoe Key, FL; Eva [Kendrick] Lutz of Colorado Springs, CO; Clara Sue [Don] Beym of Bayville, NJ; Joseph Karrais, Jr. of Lawrenceville, NJ; Margaret [James] Simpson of Hamilton, NJ; and Linda [Robert] Smith of Allentown, NJ, as well as many nieces and nephews. Klara was most proud of her ten adult grandchildren: Melissa Rumianowski [Tony LoVerde] of Longmont, CO; Jessica [Paul] Schemelia of Somerdale, NJ; Matt [Michelle] Varacalli of Hamilton, NJ; Mike [Krysti] Beym of Morrisville, PA; Dan Rumianowski [Stacey Szymelewicz] of Groveville, NJ; Doug Varacalli [Emily Abramson] of East Hampton, NY; Tiffany [Tanner] Quintanal of Phoenix, AZ; Jamie Simpson [Dan Tsekhanskiy] of New York, NY; Anna Simpson [Shane Sullivan] of Philadelphia, PA; and Zachary Simpson of Hamilton, NJ. Klara was blessed with five great-grandchildren who are each the apple of her eye: Parker and Gavin Schemelia, Madison and Mason Varacalli and Wyatt LoVerde. After an amazing life, Klara is at peace. Her kind and gentle soul will be missed by all who knew her. Klara was an avid reader and writer, a recycler and naturalist. She will be remembered by some at the German-American Club; former coworkers at Dunham's where she worked as a seamstress; her parishes of worship St. Raphael's-Holy Angels and St. Paul's in Princeton; and her neighbors at Harriet Bryan House/Elm Court in Princeton and Brookdale in Hamilton. We thank her many caregivers who are in our hearts for her recent care. Due to current restrictions, funeral services and interment in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery will be held privately for the family, under the care of Knott's Colonial Funeral Home, Hamilton. A larger memorial will be planned at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org or to the charity of one's choice. Condolences may be left at knottscolonialfuneralhome.com.