OBITUARY: Longtime Merritt Island High Teacher Karen Louise (Anderson) Pessaro Died Aug. 15 at Cape Canaveral Hospital

Taught Spanish and English at Merritt Island High School for close to 30 years

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Longtime teacher Karen Louise (Anderson) Pessaro died August 15, 2025, at Cape Canaveral Hospital in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Karen was born May 15, 1941, in Muskegon Heights, Michigan, to Edwin W.V. and Dorothy Hansen Anderson. She contracted the Polio virus in 1952 and spent many months in the hospital.

Polio left her paralyzed from the waist down, but that didn’t stop her spirit or her ability to get around. She walked with crutches and braces for more than fifty years and eventually relied on her powered wheelchair.

Karen attended college at Centre College of Kentucky and Kentucky Wesleyan, where she attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She taught in both Grand Haven, Michigan, and Bradenton, Florida, before finally settling in Merritt Island, Florida.

She taught Spanish and English at Merritt Island High School for close to 30 years. Many students will remember Señora Pessaro.

After retiring, she became very involved in the Central Brevard Retired Educators’ Association and held several positions volunteering with them. She only recently gave up her position as Volunteer Chair Coordinator.

Karen was a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of ESA, International, for over 25 years. ESA is a philanthropic organization whose main projects are St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Easter Seals. Locally, the Alpha Nu chapter has supported the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, conducted triathlons, marathons, and golf tournaments for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, collected money for the Southeastern Guide Dog Association for military personnel and their needs, and awarded scholarships to local deserving students.

One of her favorite pastimes was getting together with friends several times a week to play Mah Jongg and Bridge. She was also passionate about reading and often finished several novels a week. She loved her Polydactyl Hemingway Cat “Papa” very much, and was able to see him one last time while she was at Solaris Rehabilitation.

Karen attended Messiah Lutheran Church in Cocoa for many years, and for the past fifteen years, attended Faith Lutheran Church in Merritt Island, Florida.

Karen was preceded in death by her loving husband, Anthony “Joe” Pessaro, in 2003. We truly believe that they are back together again. She was also preceded in death by her parents Edwin W.V.and Dorothy Hansen Anderson of Twin Lake, Michigan, her brother Doug (and wife Marlene) Anderson of Twin Lake, Michigan, her brother Roger Anderson of Muskegon, Michigan, her nephew Brad Block of Naples, Florida, her parents-in-law Fred and Ruth Pessaro of Rockledge, Florida and many other cousins, family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter Cara (Pessaro) St.Germain, Cara’s fiancé Jeremiah Webster of Merritt Island, Florida, her cherished grandson, Ezra St.Germain of Merritt Island, FL, her only surviving sibling, her sister Esther Block (Tom) of Norton Shores, Michigan and Naples, FL, their children Gayle (John) Decker and Kay (Tricia) Block, her nephew Daren (Annie) Anderson, her niece Tresha (Ron) Kidder, nephew Viktor (Danielle) Anderson, Kyle (Tracey) Anderson, many grand and great nieces and nephews and many other nieces and nephews from her husband’s side. She is survived by many of her cherished lifelong friends, Nancy (Frank) Harris of Twin Lake, Michigan, Tina Johnson of Spokane, Washington, Ethel Kozak of Rockledge, FL, Kay Patskowski of Cocoa Beach, FL and so many, many more friends, too numerous to list.

Services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 280 E. Merritt Ave, Merritt Island, FL, on Wednesday, August 27, at 9 a.m. Visitation 10 a.m. and Funeral Service at 11:30 a.m. Internment will be at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, FL.

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