Karen Anne Martini, 55, surrounded by her loving family and friends left our physical world peacefully Thursday evening, October 27, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She has taken an executive vice president position in the spiritual division so she will continue to be in our lives every day.
Karen was born in Paterson, New Jersey, March 18, 1961, to Joseph and Claire Link. She grew up in Ringwood, NJ, and attended Lakeland Regional High School. She graduated from Moravian College with English honors in 1982. Karen married her husband of 34 years, Michael Martini, on October 21, 1983. They had three wonderful children. In 2005, the family decided to move to Vermont for the healthy outdoor lifestyle.
Karen was an avid skier and passionate mountain biker; her love for sports and the outdoors was only matched by her veracity for reading. The books at the Waitsfield library that Karen has not read can now rest comfortably as she won’t be burning through their pages. She was also a member of the Fayston Book (Wine) Club and looked forward to her meetings with the ladies of Fayston. Karen lived to watch her girls play ice hockey; her love for the sport continued at home with the Saturday night tradition of rooting for the Canadiens.
Karen is survived by her loving husband, Mike of Fayston; her daughters, Hayley and Hanna; and son, Nicholas; her parents, Joe and Claire Link of Brick, NJ; brother, Joe; sister, Chris; Joan Martini/Martini family of Ringwood, NJ; many nieces and nephews and numerous close relatives and friends.
“In lieu of flowers, we would like to encourage donations to the UVM Cancer Center, Office of Development, The Courtyard at Given – 1 South, 89 Beaumont Ave., Burlington, VT 05405. They have become part of our family during this battle. We can’t say enough about the compassion, love and commitment of the staff, particularly those on Shep 4, the Emergency Department and Hematology and Oncology.”
Friends may call at Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on Thursday, November 3, 2016, from 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held from Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Friday, November 4, 2016, at 11 a.m. with interment to follow in South Fayston Cemetery. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
