Monday, June 14, 2021
Karen’s parents were children of Germanic immigrant families settled in rural Saskatchewan in the early 1900’s. They moved to Thunder Bay after World War II and had two daughters, Karen being the youngest. Having struggled with polio as a child, Karen was already a miracle of life. Those struggles sensitized her to the struggles of others. She rejected the chance to be popular with her peers in favour of caring for those on the margins, and was fiercely loyal to her family.
Around the same time Karen’s family arrived in Thunder Bay, my parents came from the Netherlands with a family of four, and had two more children in Canada, me being the last.
Karen and I first met in Thunder Bay when we were in our mid-twenties, moved to London, Ontario, and married in 1980. Part of what drew us together was our shared empathy for the marginalized and a desire to seek fairness for all. We were unsuccessful in having children, even with the help of IVF procedures. Undeterred, Karen’s love for children turned us to offer fostering services, which we did for more than 10 years. Along the way we adopted three boys and raised them unconditionally as our own. Karen became heavily involved in the public school community, supporting our children as they grew, but also their classmates who struggled. She remained dedicated to our family and supported us without reserve.
Karen was in good health until recently. We celebrated her 70th birthday just a few weeks ago. We have been shocked by the speed of her decline and passing. We can never be prepared for a loss of this magnitude. It can only be felt as sudden and unexpected.
As we remember Karen, our family is grateful for the support we have been shown.
Owned and operated by St. Paul's Cathedral, London, On