Fannie K. Charles passed away peacefully at her apartment in Newport Beach, California on January 31, 2012. Her parents, Sergei and Yedocky Krupski, immigrated to the United States in 1912 because of growing unrest in Russsia. She was born in Monessen, Pennsylvania on September 29, 1916. Her mother wanted to name her Theodocia, but a bureaucrat put Fannie on her birth certificate.
Fannie was a spirited lady with movie star good looks, classic dress and a focus on family, home and work. In 1939 she married Adelbert K. Charles, Sr. (Del).
Fannie was an excellent homemaker maintaining a spotless and cheerful home. At Christmas time she treated her relatives and favored friends to her mouth watering, legendary cookies. She periodically cared for her young granddaughters when their parents were on vacation, spoiling them with lunches of their choosing. As she watched them grow up, she became an important, influential and beloved person in their lives.
As a young women Fannie was first employed in the payroll department of the Thew Shovel Company. Later she worked for her brother, Dr. John G. Krupski, as a receptionist. In 1961 her husband Del started the Del Lumber Company despite the fact that he had severe rheumatoid arthritis. She helped Del with the bookkeeping while continuing to work for her brother. Fannie had an ownership interest in the Del Lumber Company and was the Corporate Secretary for many years.
Fannie grew up in the Russian Orthodox Church and converted to Catholicism when she married Del. She and Del attended Nativity BVM Church in Lorain and were strong supporters of the Church.
Fannie and Del were a loving couple. They had a condo in Fort Myers and liked to travel. They took trips across the United States,to Hawaii, to the British Isles and to Western Europe. They visited New York City frequently when their son and daughter-in-law lived there. After Del's death Fannie traveled to Russia and Israel with her brother John and his wife Linda.
Fannie is survived by her son Adelbert K. Charles, Jr. (Doug); her daughter-in-law, Marianne; 2 granddaughters, Catherine E. Manley, Esq. and Dr. Christina Charles-Schoeman; 3 great-grandchildren, Isabelle Schoeman, Colt Manley and Madeleine Schoeman; sister, Eleanor Potocnik; sister-in-law, Linda Krupski and numerous nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Del Charles.
The Charles family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. at Nativity BVM Catholic Church, 418 W. 15th. Street, Lorain., Ohio 44052. Rev. Fr. Robert Glepko, Pastor, of Nativity BVM, and Rev. Fr. Theodore Marszal, Administrative Assistant to Bishop Richard Lennon of The Cleveland Catholic Diocese, will officiate. Entombment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Nativity BVM Church or the Salvation Army Center, 716 Broad Street, Elyria, Ohio, 44035.
Online condolences may be left for the Charles family at www.dovinreberjones.com