UPDATE: More on the funeral arrangements, again via Mark Shea and Karen Marie's brother Tom:
Thank you for spreading the word about Karen's death. It is apparently the only web release, since Blogger seems to be blocking my brother's IP address from posting comments on Karen's site. Several bloggers who I have seen in her comments before have posted condolences.
With luck, or Divine intervention, I will be able to find Karen's password for posts when I return to Milwaukee next week.
Calling Hours are 5-8 PM Sunday, August 5, in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 AM on Monday, August 6, 2007. Karen's expressed desire, at several different times, was to cause as little "trouble" as possible at her passing, whether in Milwaukee, Akron, or wherever, and so she will be interred in Akron.
Arrangements have been made to place her obituary in the Akron Beacon Journal and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. I hope to arrange a memorial Mass, or possibly a shorter Liturgy, when I return next mid-week. Details will follow.
And Karen Marie's obituary, courtesy JSOnline.
Again - she will be missed.
Lord, please welcome your faithful daughter Karen Marie into Your loving embrace. May she sing and dance with the angels and Saints in Heaven and forever partake in that joyous feast.
*************************************
From Mark Shea, the sad news that Catholic blogger, fellow Milwaukeean, and family friend Karen Marie Knapp passed away last night.
Mark writes:
I've known Karen through the web for several years. Her self-description is the best one. She was living "simply, singly and submittedly, interceding for the City and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, in a little place near Father Groppi's Bridge." Her background was in theology. She worked for twenty years as a library clerk, and retired with a disability some time back. Here writing was always characterized by charity (a quality I envy due to my weakness in that department) and she was unflagging in her willingness to extend it to others. When her old bishop retired under a cloud of scandal, she spoke kindly of him. When her new bishop arrived, she received him with joy. Her blog was a bright spot on the web. She will be missed by the folks who loved her.
Mark's the writer...and I think he says all that needs to be said, with the exception of one thing:
A few months ago, when we fell on potentially hard times, Karen Marie was willing and able to offer us her home if we needed it. We didn't, but I will be forever grateful for her generosity, her selflessness, and her love of God and Christ.
She made rosaries for various and sundry people - including non-metal rosaries for people to take into X-ray and MRIs. I have a few, and I will treasure them.
Dave knew her better (and longer) than I did, so I'll let him share his own additional thoughts if he wishes.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Karen Marie. She will be missed, but it is a comfort to know the pains that inflicted her in this life have now been washed away.
|