Celebrating Karen’s Essence.
Karen was moved by nature, art, friends and family. Her garden was her sanctuary, she left us with a perfectly imperfect collection of her watercolors and drawings, and so many tender moments amidst the heartbreak. This website is a compliation of things she loved. We hope you’ll love them too.
Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the video shared at Karen’s Memorial.
The Gardner.
The sun on her skin and dirt under her nails, Karen loved helping and watching things grow. Nothing made her spirits rise more than seeing a flourish of color amongst a bed of green, and knowing she had a hand in it’s making. Click on the picture to see photos of Karen’s garden.
The Artist.
From watercolor to writing, Karen had a gift for expression. She left her mark in our hearts, on the canvas, and the page. Click on the image to see some of Karen’s artwork.
The Coastal Spirit.
Being near the ocean filled her in a way nothing else could. Karen longed to live by the sea and we like to think of her spirit swirling in the eddies of infinity. Click on the picture of Karen as a child on the beach to see more photos.
Karen loved the ocean.
It was her great love, a place where she was drawn and felt held; the crashing surf, swirling wind and open sky, promising her freedom and reminding her of her wildness. We’re so glad we were able to bring her there one last time. Thanks to Home Health & Hospice Care of Merrimack, NH, the Rye Fire department, and Natalie Surmeli for making it possible.
Karen loved color.
An artist and nature lover, Karen celebrated color everywhere. She would be mid-scentence and pause, gasp, and point, “look at that sunset!” Each day was a new opporunity to pay tribute to the hues that infuse our visual world. Especially in her last months, when every morning she’d nominate a new “color of the day” for which we’d dress in homage. This site features cerise (cherry) which was among her favorites. This is a picture of the last time Karen was able to get out of bed. You can see the vibrant, radiant, delight-filled expression as a result of the cerise-color-celebration she insisted on that day. And the finishing touch was when she asked for a flower to be placed, oh-so-purposefully, behind her ear.
Karen loved summer.
The feeling of the sun and wind, warm nights of dinner on the deck, mornings meditating and journaling in her lush garden. Each year she made it clear that she wasn’t interested in another cold NH winter. This year her wish came true. At 8:45am on Thursday the 3rd of September, in the mind-bending year that has been 2020, Karen peacefully drew her last breath and took her exit, on her terms, without pain, at her home, near her glorious garden and, most importantly to her, with her children.
Read Karen’s obituary.
Karen loved adventure.
When we asked her where she’d like us to scatter her ashes, she asked us to always bring a little bit of her to the beautiful, wild places we visit. So that’s what we’re doing. And we’ll continue to sprinkle her ashes in celebration of her desire to be immersed in nature’s splendor.
Karen loved music.
…and to dance. Even with a walker as she neared her final days. Join us at her memorial for video of her in action. In the mean time, here’s a link to Karen’s music on Spotify.
Karen loved her kids.
It was her greatest wish for us to be healthy and happy. We realize how much of her aliveness lives on in us. Thank you, mom, for sharing your gifts with us. We’ll continue to honor your legacy every time we pause to appreciate the beauty around us, and create more of it in our lives.
Karen’s Memorial Video
This video was shared during Karen’s virtual memorial. Her family and friends gathered via zoom to honor her life, on her birthday, Sunday, May 16th, 2021, at 1 pm Eastern / 10 am Pacific.
This site is created and managed by Karen’s kids.
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I forgive myself
and I release who I used to be.
I am new.
Each second I am new.
-A quote found written in different places, at different times, in Karen’s many journals.
© 2021 Karen Kittle Memorial Website
