KAREN
Peacefully on April 21, 2013, after a courageous battle with brain cancer, Karen passed away at Riverview Health Centre.
Karen was born on July 25, 1965 at St. Boniface General Hospital and grew up near Ste. Anne, MB. Upon graduation from high school Karen attended the St. Boniface School of Nursing obtaining her RN in 1985. She made many lifelong friends while attending school and later working in the St. B. Pediatric unit. With one of those friends she headed off to work in the US, first in Florida, then California and then they took time off to travel Europe. After returning to Winnipeg, Karen completed the Intensive Care Nursing program and later began working in the Health Sciences Centre Adult Emergency where she stayed for over 15 years finding a passion for her nursing there. Along the way she grew her circle of friends further.
In 1996, her nursing friends organized her introduction to Doug and in 1999 they married. Soon after they began their family and Karen truly loved her new career as a full- time Mom to Jennifer and Kristjan and a part-time nurse. As the kids started school she built another circle of cherished friendships with parents and teachers at school.
From her first vacation in Hawaii after graduation, to Europe, Australia, Mexico and many parts of Canada and the US, Karen always enjoyed travelling, despite sacrificing some winter vacations as the wife of an accountant. She also enjoyed building and spending time at the family get away at Bird River and tending her gardens there and at home in Winnipeg. In each place, she made new friends, each of whom had a special place in her heart.
Karen is survived by her husband Doug, children Jennifer and Kristjan, mother Pat, sister Cathy (Bob), nephews Kyle, Stephane and Matthew and sister-in-law Donna (Darren) as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins and her many cherished friends who she considered part of her family. She is also loved by her special friend, our dog Hope.
She was predeceased by her father Nick in 1981.
A funeral service will be held at Sturgeon Creek United Church, 207 Thompson Drive at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2013.
The family would like to express our thanks to all the medical personnel who have cared for Karen over the last two plus years and particularly thank Dr. Garry Schroeder and primary nurse Kim Paradoski, Dr. Gerry Krcek, CancerCare Manitoba Chemo room staff, HSC RR6 staff and Riverview Health Centre Palliative Care unit 3E staff for all your care and compassion for Karen and us.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation directed to brain tumour research.
