Karel was born on September 11, 1950 in Long Island City, Queens, New York, to Genevieve Grasso Micheline Lindsay and Zigfirt “Ziggy” Jasinski. Because Genevieve was unmarried, Karel was placed in the orphanage at Angel Guardian Home and on November 3, 1953 was adopted by Charles and Esther Owens. She spent her early childhood on Long Island, and after Charles’ death in 1957 she was adopted by Esther’s second husband, Croxton Cardwell.
In 1964, after marching with her school band in the New York World’s Fair parade, Karel and Esther relocated to Illinois, settling in Belleville, where she attended Althoff Catholic High School and was given her nickname by her closest friends. She graduated from Althoff in 1968.
She met her husband Brian in 1978 while working at Southern Illinois Bank in Fairview Heights. They married a year later and remained married until her death. As an adoptee, Karel had a great interest in genealogy and was ultimately able to locate her biological family through DNA testing.
Karel was preceded in death by her biological and adoptive parents, a daughter Jennifer Dalton and three half brothers, Harold Micheline Jr., Robert Jasinski, and Lawrence Jasinski. In addition to her husband of 45 years, she is survived by a daughter, Melissa Fortae of Belleville, a son, Jason Gasawski of Shiloh, 7 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also surviving are a half sister, Faith Popolo, and half brothers Frank Micheline, Thomas Jasinski, William Jasinski, Dennis Jasinski, Stephen Jasinski and David Jasinski, numerous nieces and nephews and dear lifelong friends Susan Schomber and Kathy Dougherty.
A Celebration of Life gathering will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 1:00 P.M.- 4:00 P.M. at Lake View Funeral Home, Fairview Heights, IL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
