Age 84
Karen passed peacefully on January 28, 2024 from heart failure in the presence of loved ones after a short hospitalization. She suffered from declining memory over her last few years and lived in a memory care facility for the last year of her life.
Karen saw the world through the eyes of an artist and brought this vision to her richly atmospheric paintings and lush gardens. Both matched her complex personality, a mixture of intense emotion and meticulous precision. Karen spent countless hours creating her backyard utopia, a lavish expression of beauty and serenity.
Karen’s love for her family was consistent, fierce, and imbued with abundant humor. Along with serious life lessons about the necessity of hard work and lifelong curiosity, Karen also taught her children and grandchildren how to swear correctly (only to express frustration), the joys of schadenfreude, and how a responsible young mother might act with wild abandon to get a tattoo in an indiscreet location.
She was a pioneer of sorts, earning a Pre-Med Bachelor’s degree when it was more difficult for women to do so, and spending several decades in a successful career as a manager in a traditionally male-dominated technical field.
Karen is survived by her devoted life partner of over forty years, Randy Teare, her children Laura Bradford (Jerry), Karl Bradford (Kristen), and Sarah Franssen (Michael), along with five adored grandchildren: Cassandra, Robyn, Elaina, Theo, and Lydia, and two great-grandchildren, Ava Grace and Lily.
A private family memorial is planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the World Wildlife Fund in honor of Karen’s deep appreciation for the natural world.