Karen M. (Csakany) Frayer

Karen Marie Frayer, wife of the late Arthur Frayer, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2023 in Mishawaka, Indiana after battling with Parkinson’s and Dementia for several years.  She was 84 years old.

Karen was born on April 28, 1939, in South Bend, Indiana to John and Mary (Fulop) Csakany.  She was the oldest of four children.  She attended Our Lady of Hungary until grade 3, when the family moved briefly to Lakeville.  After a move to Mishawaka, she continued her education at LaSalle Elementary and then St. Bavo’s.  She developed a love of reading, much to the annoyance of her father at times.  In high school, she was a cheerleader, a thespian, and loved to dance.  Karen graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1957. 

She married Samuel Campagna (formerly Companion) on September 21, 1959 settling down in Mishawaka where she raised four children.  She was a member of School Men’s Wives and Tri-Kappa through the 1960’s. She instilled in her children a love of learning, a strong sense of work ethic, and the principle that one could be anything if they worked hard at it.  She shared her love of reading with her children by reading to them her favorite poems like the “Jabberwocky” and stories like “Chicken Soup with Rice” at bedtime.  She loved to sew, making outfits for the kids and herself for special occasions.  With a friend they opened the Sew Little Shop, her first venture into business.

She moved back to South Bend in 1978 marrying Carter Wolf.  She was one of the founding members of the West Washington Book Club which lasted some 40 years.  She started taking college classes at Indiana University South Bend, working towards one of her life goals of attaining a college education.  She started a new career in employment placement services.

Karen married Arthur Frayer on February 5, 2000.  She continued to work in employment placement services, advancing to one of the top positions.  She enjoyed interviewing people, finding their strengths, and placing them in job openings.  Once she retired, Karen turned her love of ‘junking’ as she and her family called it (more formerly known as antique shopping) into a small one person business.  She loved going to garage sales, auctions, and estate sales, finding treasures, and fixing them or repurposing them for sale in her store. She learned how to upholster furniture which added to her love of decorating.  She continued until the disease began to slow her down but was determined not to let it define her.  She fought it the best she could, denying it’s impact on her.  She was strong and said her mind and never quit even when it got tough for her.  Her favorite phrase was “Come on let’s go!”.

Karen loved sewing, antiques, reading, cooking, decorating, shopping, and dancing.  She loved to laugh and throw dinner parties, reveling in the decoration of the table.  She was a self-starter business woman (fabric store and antique business), and constantly in motion with projects or helping family and friends.  She never fully retired.  One of her last accomplishments was accepting Jesus as her savior late in her life after spending many years away. 

Karen is preceded in death by her parents John (Chick) and Mary; her two brothers, Michael Csakany and Thomas Csakany; her first husband Samuel Campagna and she is a widowed from her husband Arthur Frayer.

Karen is survived by her four children Kerri (Dean) McCool, Rebecca (Fred) Schultz, Patrick Campagna and partner Steve DeWitt, and Anthony (Carolyn) Campagna; her five grandchildren, Ryan (Avery) McCool, Brendon (Beka) McCool, Michael Shultz, Samuel Schultz, and Sophia Schultz; her four great grandchildren Erin, Julian, James and Everett McCool.  Also surviving her are her brother John (Marcia) Csakany; her two sisters-in-law Kathy Csakany and Ellen Csakany; her 5 nieces and nephews JoAnn (Scott) Strohmeyer, Jayme (Aaron) McConnellogue, and Jon (Erin Hannan) Csakany, Christopher (Carol Griggs) Csakany, and Paul (Joanne) Csakany along with many grand nieces and nephews. 

A cremation has taken place, and family and friends will gather on June 24, 2023 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM in the Zahoran Funeral Home, 1826 Kemble Avenue, South Bend, IN.   

A private burial of her cremated remains will follow and take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana.

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