Joan M. Karras

Joan M. Karras Services for Joan M. Karras (nee Hammond), of Lake Geneva, will begin at 9:45 Thursday, at the Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Services will continue at 11 a.m., at Transfiguration of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Chapel at Elmwood Cemetery, 2905 Thatcher Road, River Grove. Born April 16, 1928, she died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002. Joan was a voracious reader, master bridge player and winner of golf club championships earlier in her life. Her very good friend described her as an original...and she was. She was fierce in her love for family and friends. She was the loving wife of Angelo Karras; mother of Maureen (Dr. Robert) Nelson, Angela (Roger) McAlister and Claudia (Bryan) Moorehouse; and grandmother of Jenny, Grant, Jessica, Matthew, Joseph and dearly departed Grace. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gus Foundation, 833 W. Wrightwood, Chicago, IL 60614. Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book at dailyherald.com/obits. For information, (847)359-8020.