Neil Karas Obituary

Talked about funny times last night and LAUGHED TIL WE CRIED! Sooo many great times we all spent together... your dad is with you now. Such a great guy... I pray for your mom and family all the time. I just want you to know we will never, ever NOT talk about you in our house and keep your memory alive... we weren´t as close as we all were in the last year or 2 and it bothers me. Just want you to know we´ll always miss and love you Neilly! lol
Love always and forever,
Kathleen and Mark Essary oh and Alison too!!!!

Thinking about you the last couple days my dear friend! Listening to Matchbox and U2! LOL we all had soo much fun together. You’ll NEVER EVER BE FORGOTTEN IN OUR ♥ LOL Ali is 17 NOW! I’ll never forget, lol, she’d call you Meil!!! LOVE AND MISS YOU SOO SOO MUCH!
LOVE ALWAYS, Mark and Kath Essary

8 years ago today we lost one of my good buddies. Can't believe it has been that long. Still miss you man!!

NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT WE DON'T THINK ABOUT YOU. OUR HEARTS ACHE SO MUCH.YOU WERE SUCH A LOVING, FUNNY, WARM HEARTED, FUN LOVING & CARE FREE PERSON-ONE OF A KIND.TODAY WE WILL BE WITH THE FAMILY & SHARE THE WONDERFUL MEMORIES YOU LEFT US & WE KNOW YOU WILL BE WITH US, NEIL. WE LOVE YOU & MISS YOU ALWAYS, LOVE, MOM & DAD

When I listen to my heart, it whispers your name.

Thoughts of you over your Birthday weekend & so much lately with all the Star Wars everywhere - you were the best Darth Vader ever. Thinking of you always brings a smile to my face & I know your watching over me.
-Jack

Thought about you on your birthday...and you still cross my mind everyday Neil. Not a day passes. Theres still a huge hole in my heart that will be there till I take my last breath. Love Always....

Think about you ALL THE TIME Neil. We miss you and will NEVER forget you. Love you, Mark and Kathy Essary

happy birthday son we love you and miss you mom and dad

NEIL,YESTERDAY WE CELEBRATED YOUR LIFE.WE SHARED THE DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. PICTURES OF YOU BRING TO MIND SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES.YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH. TILL WE MEET AGAIN. MOM AND DAD

It been almost 2 years now since you left us all. There's not one single day you don't come to my mind. I will forever cherish every memory we shared together, which are MANY. I'm so truly blessed to have had you in my life the 5 years I did. Your never far from my heart and soul. Ever. My heart goes out to your family Neil. May you keep all who loved and adored you strong as this date approaches. Love, Renee

JACKIE, WE CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THIS WONDERFUL GESTURE FOR NEIL. GOD BLESS YOU. JOHN AND PEGGY

Thinking of you today... I drove down 39th Street and seen all of your work trucks and made me think of everywhere I would stop and visit you around this big city! I used to love when you'd introduce me to your crew! You were the Boss! So many good memories with you especially our lunch breaks at T's! We used to drive them all wild Neil! We will hang out again one day in Heaven. For now - I hope my brother Scotty is keeping you busy... XOXO
Jack ;)

Happy Easter Neil
xo

I miss you man!!

Happy Birthday Neil,we miss you so so much words cannot express.Our hearts ache every day thinking about you.The memories we cherish and remind us of what a very special person you were.So blessed to have you the short time we did. Missing you and love you always.......Mom and Dad

Talked about you yesterday. When Mark and I got up, our band came on! Matchbox 20!!! Jeez. We miss you Neil! You'll NEVER be forgotten in this house!! Love and Miss you buddy XO Kath and Mark

If tears could build a stairway, and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to Heaven and bring you back again. No farewell words were spoken, no time to say goodbye. you were gone before I knew it, and only God knows why. My heart still hurts with sadness, and tears still flow, what it meant to love each other, no one will ever know. But now I know you want for me to mourn for you no more, just remember the happy times, for my life has things in store. Since you will never be forgotten, I promise to you, there will forever be a special place in my heart and soul that belongs to only you my love. Xo

I had a dream of you, and when I woke up...I was so sad. It felt so real. I wish I could have you back Neil. There's not one day you don't come to my mind. I can't wait to meet you on the other side when its my time. Xoxo love always

I may not see you...but I feel you. Xoxo. God do I miss you neil. What I would give for one more day with you .

Today you celebrate your one year Anniversary in Heaven. Today is a hard day for us here on earth without you. Your family is in my prayers, Neil. You were so proud of your family and so proud of your roots - I always loved that about you. Not a day goes by without you crossing my mind and you come to me at the most random of times. You always remain close to my heart and never far from my thoughts. Your songs bring back such awesome memories...
I truly miss you and what we forever shared together.
Love,
Jackie

WE LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH. MOM AND DAD

Neil ~
All who know and love you will feel your presence on this Easter Sunday. I know I will, as I do so often.
Love and Miss you,
Jackie

Just thinking of you. Gosh this sucks so much. :( my life just dont feel the same without you here...I dont know if it ever really will. I go past the house often and sometimes pull up and stop and just talk to you. I blow you kisses everytime I leave. This is still so surreal for me to accept. Ill love you till my last breath...xoxo

Well. Reality really hit me today that your gone. I just got back to town today and drove past your house. :( I just wanted so bad to get out and ring your doorbell and surprise u as I've done before. I cried once again...that I lost you forever. I am going to the pier tomorrow because it was told to me by Father Preston that it would be the best place to talk to you. I hope he is right. So I'm going there to talk to you and tell you all the things I need you to hear Neil. I want to be as close to where your soul was. I need to say what I need to say. It's going to be the saddest day for me...and the hardest. I never had that closure that I still need obviously. There's not a day that goes by I don't think of you or love you. Xoxo

MISS YOU! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! We love you Mark and Kath

Thinking of you, as you spend your first Christmas in Heaven. You may be gone Neil, but never gone from my heart and mind. May you give your family and everyone who loves you, the strength this holiday season to get thru it without you. My heart is heavy without you. Thank you Neil for all the gifts you gave me....that you didn't even know you gave. You brightened my life. You made me laugh....and I smiled a realhappy smile with you. MostImportantly...you showed me what TRUE love is. None of those cost a dime but those gifts keep giving and I will forever be grateful to have the memories we made. All my love always. Merry Christmas baby xoxo

Well hunny..im going for a haircut in a couple days!!! Lol. I know you would be crazy excited to know that! Lol. You have only been telling me for what? 2 years now?!? Haha. Remember that time in your upstairs bathroom you cut it?!? We never laughed so hard. You said u were just gonna trim it! You deliberately cut like 3 dam inches off the back. Lol. Was that a great memory. Ahhhh. To have you back neil...id give anything. Well it hasnt been cut since then. God I love you till this day. If I could take back all the wrong ive done over the five years we spent together I would. You always said when.we talked about growing old together...that you had to go before me because you couldnt go on with me gone. Well...you were right...cuz I feel exactly what you meant. Its the worst empty souless feeling ever. I want to be with you! I cant even.write this without tears falling. I hope your family is doing ok. I know you were concerned for your mom when.uncle george passed on. Then she lost you. I say prayers for you and your family. I know you woukd want that. Give us all your strength neil. Im so.sorry for hurting you neil. Ill live with that forever. You are on my mind tonight....and always in my heart and soul.

I miss you everyday :( I miss so so much about you...the things you said...how you said them. Miss the way you made me laugh. God why!!? Please watch over me and the boys...give me the strength to go there and talk to you...its going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done but I need to go. The craziest thing happened tonight ...and I looked up and smiled. I know...I know. Thank you Neil xoxo All my love....forever n ever. Till we meet again....

They say spirits and souls need prayers and I always say a prayer to you. I've been reading George Anderson book called We Dont Die and it makes me have hope your here with me. Xoxo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhFxXce6nA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here love. See...I still watch n listen. I always will. Always and forever. I was telling Tanis the other day that if IF she ever may go before I go...i asked her to find you and let you know I will meet you up there when its my time....and to remind you how much i still and always will love you. Also to give you a big hug and make sure she makes sure you know how much ur loss has hurt me and still does. She said she would do that for me. :) I may go before her....but whoever meets u first...you will get the message between one of us. Xoxoxoxo.

Hi love! I just was thinkin of ya and wanted to let you know that. I wonder what its like where you are sometimes. I hope you found uncle George up there cuz I know how much his loss hurt you. I hope your flying with the angels up there and watching over us down here . hope you hear me and may my prayers give your soul strength. Till I see you again...xoxo...love you always and forever

I think back to the last weekend you were here on earth and fondly remember that I spent that Saturday with you. We talked for hours and you told me your TRUE feelings. Those who really knew you know EXACTLY how you felt about things and people. Everything in life happens for a reason and there was a reason why God put me on your doorstep. I wish I would of answered your call that morning but didn't have my phone on at work. I REGRET THAT - I LOVE AND MISS YOU and whenever I drive past our spot I always honk.

I was just thinking about you..as I always do. But tonight is a harder night then some others. I have bad days...and worse days. I find myself reading ur emails...listening to the songs u sent...watching the Manson fights on YouTube that u sent me to watch...reading texts...looking at pictures and thinking back to better times for us. I have to still be in denial that ur gone. U had 9 lives Ferris Karas!!! I hear so so many songs while I'm working that we shared together...and I heard U2 today before work. Oh. And...Celine Dion!!! :) I hope u hear me when I talk to u. I regret so so many things I've said to u. I'm sorry for a lot baby. If we would of known our time was going to be limited I know we wouldn't have said the things we did. I wish I wasn't in class June 11th when u called that morning. I will forever regret missing those calls. Tho I don't post to to often on here...there's not one day ur loss don't affect me Neil. Please hear my prayers and I can't wait to one day...see you again! Forever and always..xoxo

Hi my Love. Just can't seem to accept this. I can't believe this...still. I can't imagine going back home and you not being there. I hope you are hearing my prayers Neil. I hope you can hear all I've said to u. Well...Just wanted u to know I think of u every single day and still as always... Love you with all my heart. Mmmmmm... hmmmmmm! When I come in town I'm gonna go to pier 18 and bring u something . And I'm gonna sit there and Just talk to u. I hope u can hear me. It wasn't suppose to be like this neil. :(

In my prayers...always.

I Miss you. :(
Just thinking about you...as I do everyday. So many things left unsaid. This has to be the worst nightmare I've ever had. I can't accept this still. I Miss your calls n texts...and I wish we could go back in time....to better times. I still listen to ur voice almost every single day...or night. There's so much I regret. So much I wish I could say. You know I will always have and hold a special place in my heart for you...till we meet again...xoxo.

My deepest sympathy to John, Peggy, Jessie and Russell and the rest of the Karas/Pancer family. I have no words. All I can say is I'm so very sorry for your loss of Neil. My heart is heavy for all of you and you are all in my thoughts. Love, Rita

WE WON THE CUP BABE!!! I know Ur up there celebrating the Hawks Stanley Cup win with Uncle George! I'm so sad and sorry u had to miss this win. God .why?!!! I know we would be high fiving and screaming and cheering like crazy. Miss u so much. You taught me everything I know about hockey and took me to my only Hawks games ever. It's something I Love today and times I will forever cherish. Xoxo

Well Baby....the Hawks are one win away from the cup! I still watch every game... tho they will never be the same since we can't text when good plays or goals happen. I miss those alot. Gosh...seems so long ago now when we watched them take the cup last time at Ur house! You know what I just found on my gmail? I guess u sent me that Hawks fight with Mattson I believe his name was? Or Manson? I had to smile cuz every time we would watch those you would get crazy excited and show me what developed. So I didn't even know u emailed that link from a month ago till I seen it a couple days ago. I will forever save all the emails we exchanged....your voicemails....and our pictures. I guess this is the only way I feel I can talk to u...even tho I do when I'm at home...or in the car. I talk to u outloud and pray u hear me. I miss u Neil. Very much. I still wait for my phone to go off everyday... I'm not or can't accept this. I hope in time it gets better for me and also Ur family. Well...had to tell ya we took Boston last night at the Madhouse on "Madison " and that's in quotes for a reason.... and u know what that reason is! LOVE, Renee

I remember Neil from the time he was a baby! My son and Neil grew up together. They were good friends. I will miss you Neil, you were a good guy. My heartfelt sympathy and love to Peg and John and the family!

Heading to bed and just said my prayers to you out loud and I hope u hear me. I pray for your family at this devastating time they are going through. God bless your soul and ur family. Miss u every day Ferris Karas! We will meet once again neil...not on this earth...but the gates of heaven oneday! I used to be scared of death...but now I km ow ur up there...I find peace in that u will greet me when its my time. And I am blessed to have a part of you with me everyday forever xoxo

Neil you will be missed... Rest In Peace, Love Paul and Robin Steller

SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOST OF A GOOD SON
RIP NEIL LOVE YOU
DEPT OF WATER NOREEN

I worked with Neil at the Chicago Water Department and Neil was a colorful character. He loved his White Sox and hated the Cubs. I will miss seeing him. I'm sorry to have missed the wake I was out of town. My condolences to your family.

My deepest sympathies to the entire Karas family. Many of my childhood Hegewisch memories include Neil & the entire Karas family, from Mann Park to the Babe Ruth field. May God grant him peace and may his memory be eternal.
All my love,
Nicole Zagorac Kundrat

MARY LONG
NEIL I WILL MISS YOU DEARLY
YOU MADE ME SMILE WHEN EVER I SAW YOU
YOU WERE A GREAT FRIEND AND CO WORKER.
YOU ARE TRULY AN ANGEL. NOW FLY YOUR WINGS NEIL.

John and Peggy, we are so sorry for your loss. There is no greater loss. We will pray for your acceptance of this time and peace to you and your children. God Bless and keep you all.

Rest in peace brother.

I had a chance to play baseball in the Hegewisch 30 and over league with Neil a couple of years ago.He always kept things very entertaining,and he was a great player. Neil we will miss you,but you will always have a special place in my heart.Thanks for always TURNIN UP THE HEAT!

Dear John and Peggy,
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of great loss. Remembering Neil during all those years through Little League and Babe Ruth. He was a great kid! I can't imagine the pain you are going through. May God grant his soul eternal rest.

Our deepest sympathy to the Karas Family from Dr. Sakhawat Hussain and all the office staff, we are so sorry for your loss.

John and Peggy - I can only imagine how you feel after being through so much. I am out of town but wanted you to know that I am thinking of the entire Karas/Pancer family. Terri Jendra

My deepest thoughts and prayers to the Karas family. Neil was a great coach and a good friend and will be dearly missed.

Neil and I havn't really talked in about a year,I assumed this would be temporary.I feel bad,he was their for me in my darkest hours.He really loved his family and talked about his sister's children all the time.He had so much respect for his parents and was a good friend to so many.We are going to miss him terribly. Love you my friend. xoxoxoxoxoxo

John, May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow, so sorry for the loss of your son, Neil was a great friend; Our hearts ache for you, know that you are in our prayers, with deepest sympathy.

In memory of Neil, a generous donation is in order to American Red Cross.

I can't begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am to learn of Neil's passing. Your family is in my prayers. May you find peace in the glow of your memories.

Im sorry for your loss Karas family.. II Wish everyone the best.

its a hard thing to put a finger on. so many questions,so un answered questions.its not a easy thing to handle when a love one crosses over to the next adventure in another time and place.maybe one day we all meet again in a GIANT reunion but when the time comes the time isnt always when we want it.are we being selfish or was are work on this earth finished we made are mark as the quality person we was molded to be and acomplished the tasks that was set forth long before we ever was thought of. yes its hard to let go but that person is never lost neil remains in our hearts thru all the memories we have aquired.look inside youselves anytime you want to.our memories are always there. my condoleces to john and peggy and extended family ALLAN TAYLOR

My prayers go out to the Karas family

Oh. I meant to tell u. I went thru my emails today and just got the youtube songs u sent me. The Flame by Cheap Trick and that one u always sent..can't remember the name now but they touched my heart. Thank u for those n the memories! You were so good to me n the boys. Miss and love you!! Wish things could have been different babe. Xoxoxox Renee

I am sorry for your loss.Neil was a good person.My thoughts and prayers are with the Karas family.

John and Peggy, I was so sorry to hear about Neil's passing. I enjoyed working with all of you during your physical therapy sessions. I wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you, and wishing peace for you and the rest of the family.

neil; I will always have a special place in my heart for you & will always love you ! im so sorry god took you away before your time & our plan;s. Remember just last week we laughed about the Hawk;s theme wedding song& we were gonna walk into steve;s lounge with our Hawks Jersey;s on over my dress & your tux to the Hawk;s goal song . oh Neil im going to miss you forever .I listen to your voicemails every day & wish I could hear you one last time . I will love you forever and ever ... love you Renee

We are sorry for your loss....We are blessed to have met him. May he rest in peace.

Neil' you will be missed for all eternity. we had some good talks ... everytime I see the hawk's I think of you. Rest In Peace ; you are now god's angel .

Our sincere sympathy to Neil Karas Family. May he rest in peace

Neil,
U are one of my oldest friends. U could always put a smile on my face or make me laugh. You will always hold a special place in my heart. Until we meet again my friend....

Much love, prayers to your family and friends from Mark, Josh and the rest of the Kellys. The friendship you and Mark had was very special and will be forever in his heart as one he will cherish from now until forever. Rip Neil i will miss feeding you my awesome food as you called it =(

Neil,
I promise to cherish every memory we shared together. You will remain in my heart forever, and I will sing to you every U2 song that I hear. Now, shine down from Heaven on your family and let them feel your presence.
Love & Friendship,
Jackie

Rest in peace Neil. I am grateful to have known you and to have been in your presence so many times. I loved our time on the ice together and the laughs we had over the years at Mugs. My prayers go out to the entire Karas family. God Bless - Joe Cimarolli and family (Bob, Lenore and Rob)

Our deepest sympathy to your family in this time of sorrow.

To John and Peggy and the entire Karas/Pancer family; I am so very sorry for the loss of your son, brother, nephew and uncle. May he rest in peace.

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

God Bless to the Karas Family!

I worked with Neil on and off for better than eight years. Always looked foward to the days they put us together. God bless Neil and his loved ones.

Neil was a very close friend and always knew how to make you smile and laugh. He was care free and spontaneous and I loved that about him. Neil just said to me a few weeks ago when he lost his uncle that "life's to short so we have to live it up now" and that he did. My heart goes out to his wonderful parents and family. He will be greatly missed.

Every time I think about my time working with the Water Dept. I think of Neil, from the minute I met Neil and Mike Z. I had a blast never a bad moment. Go Hawks