I regret not having had the opportunity to meet Karen and know her only through her daughter, Kari. I offer my deepest condolences for the loss of your mother, daughter, grandmother, aunt, and friend. If the only thing that Karen had contributed during her lifetime was the birth of her daughter, she left this world a better place. She, of course, lived a full and eventful life and positively impacted the lives of many. We are all, to a certain extent, a reflection of our parents and I have to believe that the very best of Karen is reflected and lives on in Kari. For those of us who are fortunate to know Kari and have her in our lives we are forever grateful and forever in Karen’s debt.
jpyell
31st May 2013
Here's what I first wrote when I heard of Karen's passing... "Shedding a tear. She brought great joy to me at a Cunha dance. First slow dance ever! She was very kind to an awkward teen. RIP Karen!" We would have been about 13 or 14 at the time of this dance. Dances we're so awkward back then. The girls on one side of the gym and the boys on the other. It took all the courage I could muster to cross the floor. I'm now 55 years old. I remember the dance like it was yesterday. Karen was so beautiful and always had that lovely smile!! Please accept my condolences on your loss.
Islandlife
1st April 2013
“I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says;
"There, she is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull
and spar as she was when she left my side
and she is just as able to bear her
load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone
at my side says, "There, she is gone!"
There are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad
shout;
"Here she comes!"
-Henry Van Dyke
From Kari
30th March 2013