Carla Karczewski

Carla Ann Karczewski, 57, died of natural causes at her Ilwaco residence on October 31, 2009. Born in Albany, Oregon on February 26, 1952 she was the daughter of Preston and Delores (Christof) Dickey. Carla grew up in Albany, graduated from Albany Union High School and attended Southern Oregon State College in Ashland, Oregon. As a child she loved going to Taft (later Lincoln City) on the Oregon coast to visit her grandfather. On March 17, 1983 she married Tom Karczewski in Newport, Oregon. Shortly after their marriage Tom joined the United States Coast Guard and the couple lived at various locations including Anacortes, WA, Eureka, CA, Westport, WA and Newport before moving to Ilwaco nine years ago. Carla was employed at Bearings, Inc and City Garbage in Eureka, CA. After moving to the Peninsula she did cat boarding at her residence. Carla rescued many animals, especially cats. Recently she adopted from the South Pacific County animal shelter "Trixie" who became known as "the cranberry dog", appearing recently in the Chinook Observer. Additionally, Carla loved volunteering at the Peninsula Visitors Bureau where she got to know the people and the history of the local area. Carla is survived by her former husband Tom of Ilwaco and her brother, Father Bryon A. Dickey of Tacoma, WA. A Celebration of Carla's life will be held at 12:00 PM Noon, Thursday November 12, 2009 at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, Long Beach. A reception follows. Memorials in Carla's name are suggested to the South Pacific County Humane Society, PO Box 101, Long Beach, WA 98631.