Sylvia Ann (Collins) Karasinski

Sylvia Ann (Collins) Karasinski, 96, of Keene NH passed away peacefully and was reunited with her late husband Stanislaw, Thursday, January 30, 2025 at American House Keene after a period of failing health.

She was born January 15, 1929 in Somersworth NH, to Raymond and Alice (Bailey) Collins. Sylvia was raised in Rochester during the Depression, remembered eating a lot of beans, even taking bean and mayonnaise sandwiches for school lunch. In 1947 her mother Alice wrote a thank you letter to her brother Ralph Bailey (Uncle Bub) for the .22 rifle he sent for Christmas. She wrote “Syl proved to be the best shot”, “Dave and Jake were pleased and surprised when it arrived”, as “when it came our BB gun was down at the police station” after the Corson kid “shot through Duntley’s window”.

Sylvia graduated from Spaulding High School, and the University of New Hampshire. She taught school in Berwick ME before traveling to Mannheim Germany to teach in Department of Defense Dependents Schools. While attending a dance she met her future husband Stanislaw Karasinski. He had been freed from forced farm labor by the Allies and spent a year in a displaced persons camp before becoming the youngest recruit in the newly formed U.S. Labor Service. Ma and “Tata” married in Orleans France, and lived in New Hampshire, Florida, and Kentucky, before settling in Windsor Connecticut to raised their family.

Sylvia earned a Masters of Education at the University of Hartford, teaching first and second grade in Bloomfield Public Schools. Ma was an enthusiastic supporter of her children’s sports and activities. She embraced Ta’s Polish culture joining the Catholic Church, cooking Golumpki, baking Makowiec, Christmas Stollen, and preserving the vegetables from their large garden, fruit trees, and berry patch. In retirement they moved to Newport, North Carolina. Ma moved to American House Keene New Hampshire after Ta’s passing. She enjoyed family reunions at Perkins Cove Ogunquit Maine, Celtics, Bingo, Trivia, and American Contract Bridge earning Life Master.

She is survived by her daughter Susan Harvey, Morehead City NC, sons Steven and wife Gayle of Morehead City NC, Sylvester and wife Anne of Swanzey NH, her brothers Jake and wife Chris Collins of Rochester NH, David Collins, of Dover NH, Grandchildren, Siddiq, Katherine (KC), Seaton, Ian, Ben, and Briana, Great Grandchildren Isis and Ianez, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Sylvia was predeceased by her husband Stanislaw, her son and daughter-in-law Stanley and Margaret (Peggy) Karasinski, her siblings and their spouses, Marie (Ben) Mooney, Betty (Dick) Berg, Jane (Edgar) Singer, and Harriet (Bart) Blasetti, Perry (Phyllis) Collins, and David’s wife Joan Collins.

A spring burial is planned in Rochester, there are no calling hours. The family would like to thank the Staff at American House and Home Healthcare, Hospice, and Community Service for their kindness and compassion.