Karen Blyler
Karen Blyler (nee Ferko) of North Olmsted, Ohio, age 61, passed away on November 2, 2021. She was the daughter of Anne and Stephen Ferko (both deceased). Sister to Steve Ferko and George Ferko (deceased). She was married to James Blyler for 25 years until his death on December 4, 2004. Karen leaves behind her children Michael (Joanne) Blyler and Jamie Blyler; her granddaughters Anna Blyler and Michelle Blyler; great grandson Oliver; her stepdaughter Monica Nicholls (nee Hamlin); grandsons Christopher Nicholls and Alexander Nicholls; ex husband, Michael Hamlin-married 10 years. She was a beloved Aunt, and great aunt to many nieces and nephews. Karen surrounded herself with love from many fellow musicians, friends, and family. Her boyfriend Don Czarnecki was with her at the time of her death. She will be missed by many people.
Karen was member of St. Catherine’s Church, sister church: St. Basil The Great, and Holy Spirit (Garfield Hts); where she was part of the chior and was chior director at St. Catherine’s. Karen was also a musician and even recorded an album she loved to sing and had a beautiful singing voice.
Karen’s Funeral Service will be held on November 20, 2021 at Staint Basil The Great (8700 Breacksville Road, Breacksville OH, 44141) at 11am. Followed by burial at Holy Spirit Cemetery. A Repass/Celebration of Life will be held right after the cemetery at St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Church at the activy center in the back of the church, (8111 Brecksvillerd, Brecksville, OH 44141).
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Very good story thank you for sharing it.
My husband and I met Karen at St. Catherine’s we were Church member. That turn into friendship our Condolences to the family and friends.
I’m truly missing you my friend.
Karen was an awesome lady that will be missed by all that had her as a friend; she was blessing to those who inherited.
My deepest condolences
Karen will truly be missed
My heart is so heavy..
Heaven has gained a beautiful angel..
Farewell ole friend. You made my childhood better. Thank you. Godspeed until we meet again.
My Bestie Karen,
Since I graduated back in 1978,
CCC high school has become a distant memory, specially that after paying for a yearbook and leaving the return address, it was lost in the post.
I tried many times to contact the school, but no use.
Then with 20th century technology advances, it never occurred to me, to try to look for the people I really loved and cared for, for a whole year.
Then one day after I retired 2015, I found a short massage from Karen I couldn’t believe it. As women married they carry the husband’s last name I didn’t have a chance to look for anyone.
Her massage was like the raft that brought me to the joy of remembering friends.
And on Christmas 2017 my bestie sent me the yearbook that I always wanted for more than 40 years.
Her looking for me, and sending the book and the hours of chatting all hours of the day, I felt the caring heart Karen had was the breath of fresh life . My wife felt the joy from telling her stories of Karen. The memories flooded in me with the joy Karen brought back to me.
I loved your heart my bestie
Karen Blyler . 17th of November 2021.
My sincere condolences to Karen’s family and to those others who were close to her. Karen and I kept a fairly minimal but regular contact on Facebook. Because of this, I was aware of what she was going through. I had heard nothing for a little while, and the other day I sensed something tapping me on the shoulder. Uh-oh. I checked in this morning, only to learn of her passing. THANK YOU to whoever it was that maintained her FB page – it is the only way I would have known.
Karen and I were never really very close, but I have known her for a very long time. I was closer to her brothers – George in particular. We all grew up together in Cleveland. I lived up the street from the Ferko family. George, Steve and I came up together musically, George and I formed the rhythm section, honestly, of more bands than I can remember. In the early days, Karen was the annoying brat kid sister who wouldn’t leave the big boys alone while they were rehearsing in the Ferko family basement. It wasn’t until some years later that I realized that she has been listening closely to her brothers, taking all that music in. When I heard her sing, it became clear that – between singing at St. Catherine’s and whatever it was that she got from us, she had really learned a few things – Yeow! … that girl could sing! The heavenly bandstand just keeps getting better and better. The music down here, not so much.
I came up from Florida to attend the beautiful memorial concert for George that she and Steve organized. It was very moving … truly unforgettable. Since that time, we continued to share whatever pictures we found among our things, for which I was very grateful.
This time, it was Karen’s turn to lose the body that gives each of us so much trouble – and return at last to the eternal source. I know that she suffered a lot before she became free. I have prayed for her, as I pray now for the ones she’s temporarily left behind.
I will be a musician for the rest of my days. I didn’t realize any of this when I was younger, but over the years it has become clear to me. It would be the understatement of the century to say that this family touched my life.
Until it is my turn to go, whenever I am called upon to share the abilities I’ve been given, it will be my honor and my joy to remember, and actually to channel, the experience, the love, and the SOUL that has been my blessing to receive from you, my fellow travelers.
Love to All,
Robert Kelleher
Bogota, Colombia
11/17/21
Sent from my iPad