For Karen

Bright was the light she carried,
a spark that warmed each room.
Her laughter—quick, and golden—
chased away the gloom.

With hands that shaped the beautiful,
a talent soft and true,
she painted love in vibrant ways,
in every shade and hue.

A friend who held our hearts with hers,
who listened, shared, and stayed—
though now she walks a softer sky,
her kindness will not fade.

Her humor lit the quiet hours,
her laughter made us whole;
her stories, full of warmth and life,
still echo in the soul.
Her tale of her old dog,
her Miracle Glow medicine,
remains unforgettable,
a memory bright within.

She carried sparkly brightness,
that warmed each gathering room;
her quick, golden laughter
lifted every gloom.

With talent shaped in many ways,
she shared her caring heart—
a friend who truly listened,
who made kindness into art.

Now walking in a softer sky,
her light remains so near;
in every smile, in every memory,
we feel our Karen here.

For Karen

She carried a gentle brightness
that warmed every room,
her quick, golden laughter
lifting any gloom.
With talent shaped in quiet ways,
She shared her caring heart.
a friend who truly listened,
who made kindness an art.
Now walking in a softer sky,
her light remains so near—
in every smile, in every memory,
We still feel Karen here.

Val, Victoria, and Thomas

For Karen

Bright was the light she carried,
a spark that warmed the room.
Her laughter—quick and golden—
chased away the darkest gloom.

With hands that shaped the beautiful,
a talent gentle, true;
She painted love in quiet ways
that only caring souls can do.

A friend who held our hearts with hers,
who listened, shared, and stayed—
Though now she walks a softer sky,
Her kindness will not fade.

In every smile she once inspired,
in every memory we keep,
Karen’s spirit lingers near—
a love too bright for sleep.

With love,
Val Bond, Victoria, and Thomas Dorsch

Mzzzz ‘s Lovely Friends & Neighbors. She loved them sooo Much.

By the pool she never went into in Deer Park, Long Island..  Linda and Karen BFF

This is Karen, age 13, visiting me in Leonia, NJ. She took the bus and train by herself all the way from Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y.

This is a photo of Karen providing makeup services for my television production company in New York in the early 1980s. The shoot was at a public library in northern New Jersey

Creative, enthusiastic, and very kind.

Mzzz & Bernadine The Hilton Hotel Houston, Texas.

Celebrating Christmas at the Hilton during one of my many visits to Nassau Bay. Left to right back: Hal Wixon, Karen's high school boyfriend and 2nd husband, Karen, Chad Wixon, Hal's son.
Front: Santa and me.  Around 10 years ago.

Karen at my N.J home. The piano duet masterpiece requiring such intense concentration?  Chopsticks.
We took my only daughter, Melody Rose, everywhere. To Broadway shows, restaurants, everywhere. This is around 1992.

Karen was a born caterer and created lavish parties wherever she lived. This is from a  pool party at her Deer Park home. These are her parents and mine. From left to right: back: Jeanette Robins, Martha Barasch, Gary Barasch, Aaron (Robbie) Robins.  Front: Karen Fleischhacker and Linda Robins

Karen was the daughter of Paul Gerhardt of Saar, Germany, a Nazi who died during WW II, and Martha who remarried . As a
wartime child, Karen lived in Frankfurt am Main. She developed her strong love of animals during that time and they had a lot. Through her life her special love was small dogs. She used to take them places in large handbags and they behaved themselves in restaurants. 
Martha and Gary Barasch emigrated to Forest Hills, Queens.  I met her when she was 6. We lived, separated by a fence, in
adjoining garden apartments.  As little girls we had free reign.
We walked everywhere, unsupervised, to the park where we stood up on the swings while swinging, see-sawed and she walked, expertly, on fences. Her little brother, Jeffrey, was always in tow and she was forced to walk Cinder, the Scotty, of Dr. Swenty. We never talked about the horrible times we were both experiencing. We played with trading cards, jacks, chess, and, at 11, we sold greeting cards door to door. We played with  my cat at that age, who had to stay in the back yard. My parents both worked.  I moved away to New Jersey at age 12.
Karen came to visit me there and we kept in touch all our lives.

Mzzz!! & Miss Kitty👸🏻👼🏻❤️🦢💫🗽🍎

Karen Fleischhacker Wixon nee Barasch is the most unforgettable character we will ever know.  We have lost a gem and life will not be the same without her for those who had the privilege of having her in our lives.
She declared that her life had been "beautiful" and it was full of color, adventures, laughter, giving and creativity.  As her best friend for nearly 80 years, I should know.
She is survived by her twin sons, Drs. Glenn and Wayne Fleischhacker, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild on the way and a daughter, Jill Fleishhacker. Also surviving her are her two brothers, Jeffrey Barasch and Stuart Fleischhacker.

OBITUARY

Karen Wixon

August 10, 1940 – October 9, 2025

Forest Park East Funeral Home & Cemetery

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