Anna K. (Warshauer) Karrenberg

Anna K. Karrenberg, 97, of Colchester, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on the morning of Thursday, March 23, 2023. Anna was devoted to her faith, her family and her friends, but most of all to her darling husband Wally, who, against her wishes, predeceased her January 29, 2022. Anna was born August 2, 1925 to the late Frederick and Mary (Blum) Warshauer in Manhattan, NY. She loved growing up in Manhattan with her (late) sister Charlotte and spending her summers at the Rockaways.

Anna and Wally shared a kiss on New Year’s Eve 1940, and while he knew from then on that she was the one for him, it took a little more convincing on her end. After surviving a long separation during WWII that included Wally spending 11 months as a POW, they were reunited and eventually married in November of 1947. Although Anna was a Manhattan girl at heart and a founding member of the Evens and Odds Club, a group of lifelong friends from 88th Street, she was above all a devoted wife, and spent the early years of her marriage moving from Air Force Base to Air Force Base, including stops in Alaska (twice!), Florida, California, and North Carolina before she and Wally settled with their expanding family in the “William Road House” on Long Island in NY. 

Anna was blessed with four children, two sons and two daughters, and had the joy of having her beloved nephew with her as well. George, Walter Jr, Jimmy, Mary and Kathy were the light of her life and she took great delight in ensuring they had their favorite meals on birthdays, and ham on Easter and turkey on Thanksgiving. You might not always know it was a ham or a turkey, and there is the matter of the time she was almost excommunicated from the church for serving a concoction of cranberry sauce, jello and salted peanuts to the priest, and reports of an oven mitt in the sauce may or may not be true, but her door was always open and her table was always full. She also delighted in traditions such as ringing in the New Year by providing her children pots and pans to bang on, dying and hiding Easter eggs (and occasionally forgetting where she hid them), hanging up stockings and wrapping Christmas gifts in the funny pages, and sending cards to everyone she knew. She loved a party and always made birthdays and holidays truly special events. 

Anna held many jobs throughout her life, but once she and Wally settled in North Massapequa, she became an associate at JC Penney and worked there for 16 years before retiring October 7, 1987. As always, her people skills held her in good stead, and she was a beloved coworker- we found photos with what appears to be the entire staff of the store at her retirement party! Anna and Wally started their next adventure by relocating to Florida, enjoying time with friends and family and traveling extensively throughout their golden years before returning north and settling in Colchester, CT to be closer to their family. They were fixtures at baseball and soccer games, chorus and band concerts, plays and pageants for their nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren, and Anna particularly loved a good game of Monopoly. They continued to be active in the community, becoming involved with St. Andrews Church and the Colchester Senior Center where they enjoyed making friends and participating in all sorts of trips and adventures. Anna especially loved her memory class and playing Mahjong and we are eternally grateful to the staff for the friendship and care they provided to her. 

Anna is survived by her four children: Walter (Suzanne) Karrenberg, James (Elizabeth) Karrenberg, Mary (James) Orlando, Katherine (Robert) Albanese, nephew: George (Gail) Bock, nine grandchildren: Jill (Richard Crane) Karrenberg, Jaimelynn (Daniel) Drake, Dominic (Nicole) Albanese, Jacqueline (Frank) Canko, Vincent Orlando, Katrina Albanese, Nicole Orlando, Maxwell Karrenberg, Jacob Karrenberg, eleven great-grandchildren: Elisabeth Wise, Kathryn (Caleb Morth) Wise, Margaret (Elijah Bryce) Wise, Alexandra Wise, Harley Perreno, Jackson Drake, Alexander Drake, Joseph Canko, Eliana Albanese, Sienna Canko, Alessia Albanese, four great great-grandchildren: Laceyjane Wise-Morth, Jameson Wise-Morth, Alistair Wise-Morth, Lilahmae Wise-Morth and many nieces and nephews. We would like to thank Wendy Winn, Anna’s long-time caretaker, for her dedication and support.

Anna was so proud to be the matriarch of this group, and loved to tell everyone she met that her family had five living generations. We are grateful for her long life, her love and devotion and will miss her beyond our capacity to express in words. 

We will celebrate Anna’s life with a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, March 31st at 11:00 am at St. Andrews Church, 128 Norwich Avenue in Colchester. Reception to follow in the church hall. Anna will be buried with her beloved Wally at Calverton Cemetary on Long Island, New York. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Anna’s memory may be made to the Colchester Senior Center. The family requests that guests wear blue, Anna’s favorite color, to the service. To sign the online guest book or share a memory of Anna, please visit www.auroramccarthyfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.