Karisse Schilling

Obituary for Karisse Joy Schilling Karisse Joy Schilling, 37, died early Wednesday Morning, May 18, 2016 at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida. She was born in Akron, Ohio on April 7, 1979. She moved to Alexandria, Virginia, in 1985, with her sister, Kristel Renee Schilling and parents Walter and Cornelia Schilling when her father attended Virginia Theological Seminary. After living in San Antonio, Texas, for two years, she moved to Melbourne, Florida, with her family where she grew up through High School. Karisse graduated from Eau Gallie High School in 1997 and Flager College in St. Augustine, Florida, Class of 2001 with a BA degree in Secondary Education and Sign Language. After college, Karisse fulfilled a life-long dream of serving the Lord through Youth With a Mission in Los Angeles, California, and visited and served in 27 different countries around the world. She also worked more recently with the non-profit group ICC, International Christian Concerns in Washington, D.C. Karisse went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ peacefully with her family and friends present. Her life verse was Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. She is survived by her father, The Rev. Walter (Wally) B. Schilling III and her sister, Kristel Renée Schilling, both of Melbourne, Florida; Wally’s wife, Kathleen (Kathy McAuliffe) Schilling; Wally’s step-daughter, Kelly Brandenburg, and her husband, Dan Brandenburg, and their daughter/granddaughter, Izabella Brandenburg of Plantation, Florida; step-son, Brent McAuliffe of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and a large extended step-family; Karisse’s grandmothers: “Oma” Caroline Becker of Park Ridge, IL, and “Grandma” Joan Schilling of Springfield, Virginia; her two aunts: Suzi and husband/uncle, Rick Smethurst of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Laura and husband/uncle, Scott Gerke of Vienna, Virginia; her uncle, Dr. Norbert Becker and wife/aunt, Sue Becker of St. Charles, IL; and 12 cousins: John Smethurst and wife, Jen and daughter, Annie; Katherine (Smethurst) and husband, Kevin Miller and children, Quinn and Hazel; Christy Smethurst, Becca (Smethurst) and her husband, Matt Berlin, and daughter, Skylar; and David Smethurst; Justin Gerke and wife, Vanessa; Jillian, Dorothea and Daniel Gerke; Alex Becker, Nora (Becker) and husband, Jack Radford and daughter, Regan; and Karl Becker. Karisse is also survived by her “adopted sister” Holly Followell and her husband, Shaun and their children/nieces: Zola, Kiersten, Brendan, Caelynna, Lee, and Roderich. She was predeceased by her mother, Cornelia Johanna Becker Schilling, also on May 18, in 2003; her maternal “Opa”, Francis Becker, on April 5, 2005; and her paternal grandfather, Walter Schilling on October 14, 2014. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at 3:00 PM at Freedom Christian Center, 7250 Andrew Lake Drive, Melbourne, FL, 32940. A reception will follow immediately on the patio of Freedom Christian Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to International Justice Mission PO Box 96961 Washington, DC 20090. It is better not to donate online as there is no way to do it “In Memory of…” Please donate by check with In Memory of Karisse Schilling on the memo line. Or call (703) 465-5495 and speak to a representative. Mention that the donation should be used “in efforts to end human trafficking”. Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home, 5400 Village Drive, Viera, FL, 32955 is in charge of arrangements. Their website/guestbook is www.beckmanwilliamsonviera.com Their phone number is 321-635-1973.