Anneka Antoinette DeCaro

Anneka Antoinette DeCaro, 29, of Austin, Texas, precious daughter, beloved sister, and treasured mommy, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Anneka was born on October 14, 1995, in Tokyo, Japan, the daughter of Mike and Rose (Gaesser) DeCaro. Bright, witty, creative, musical, and artistic, her mind regularly sojourned to places unknown by most, always fascinating, and filled with intrigue.

Anneka epitomized thinking beyond the mundane and cliché. Her insightful introspections yet light-hearted manifestations emanated not only from her perspectives influenced by the material world, but also from her gifts of perception and sense of spirituality. She viewed her baptism in Lake Austin as a second birthday and cherished her relationship with Jesus throughout life. Anneka was happiest participating in AWANA and Vacation Bible School programming and loved sharing this passion with her two sons–Seth and Sage, as they sang Bible songs and responded to Anneka’s deep love for learning and them.

During her early years, Anneka grew up across Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore, attending Japanese and British schools. She and her sister, Emma, were partners in make-believe, often playing Barbies, secret agents, and princesses on planes, trains, and automobiles. She even authored and illustrated her first single-print book called “I’ve Been Daddyized,” about a whimsical weekend when her mom went out of town.

Upon arriving at Lake Travis High School, Anneka marched in the cymbal line during freshman year and went on to lead the saxophone section. In addition to earning the designation of UIL Gold Medal as an outstanding soloist for her talents on the alto saxophone, Anneka was recognized at the Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) with several awards for her paintings. Before graduating, she also published a collection of works entitled “A Visual Bliss,” with proceeds benefiting the Lake Travis Education Foundation.

While matriculating at The University of Pennsylvania, Anneka participated in activities at The Kelly Writers House, designed regular comics for The Daily Pennsylvanian, volunteered at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, was employed at Penn Press, and engaged in critical interfaith dialogues with fellow classmates across campus. She loved studying art history, the biological basis of behavior, criminal justice, French and Yoruba.

To people suffering from the mysteries and darkness of mental health challenges, Anneka was a light, showing them compassion and befriending many. Anneka would regularly recount her interactions with those she came alongside, who likewise sought solutions to difficult medical issues. Whereas Anneka struggled to see in herself what the world positively viewed in her, she easily saw God’s image and dignity in others suffering like herself when the world was prone to discount them.

Anneka is survived by her sons, Seth and Sage, and their dad Joseph Sanou, her parents, Mike and Rose DeCaro, sister Emma DeCaro, Grandma Tony Kasznel, Aunt Sharon Gaesser, Aunt Sue Gaesser, Aunt Lori Gaesser, Uncle Jim (Cheryl) DeCaro, Uncle Dave DeCaro, several cousins, and her favorite dog, Jagabar.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the University of Pennsylvania Newman Center and/or the Texas Baptist Children’s Home in her honor.

At this time, Anneka's life will be memorialized privately by close family members.