Thank You For Coming!!

We would like to say thank you to everyone who came to Karen's memorial service (extra thanks for braving the heat) or provided input or comments on this site. It's very coforting to know Karen meant so much to so many.

Also a sincere thanks to the Healing Place, it's staff, and its residents, many of whom pitched in to help with set up and takedown of the furniture and electrical.

Several people asked after the ceremony about how to find out more details about the commemoration of the health clinic at the Healing Place in Karen's name. I am sure that the Healing place will be making announcements on its website, http://www.hpowc.org/, and we will also maintain this blog over time to put out more information about the commemoration and any ceremonies in that regard. There is no schedule as of yet, except the general concept mentioned by Kathy Thomas of the beginning of 2008.

More Memorial Service Info

Everyone who's coming to the memorial service on Sunday should know that the The Healing Place does have parking, but it may or may not have enough parking for everyone. Not to worry, because they have graciously volunteered to shuttle people from and to a nearby lot on Biggs Drive. There should also be an attendant to direct you if that is needed. Also here is a link to an aerial photo/map that shows the area. Use the slider on the left side ofthe map to zoom all the way and you'll see The Healing Place near the center...and the nearby overflow parking lot can be seen in the upper portion of the photo just below the words "Biggs Dr." (I have tested the link on an Internet Explorer browser and it seems to work fine). Again, if you need to use this lot there will be a courtesy van moving people back and forth. Thanks.

Please Post Your Remembrances Here

This is an open post for anyone to post their memories of Karen using the comments link below. You need not have a Google account. Here's how to leave a comment...
1. Click on the comments link at the bottom of this post, or right here.
2. Scroll to the bottom and enter your remembrance in the text box.
3. Below the text box, under "Choose an Identity", click on the "other" check box.
4. Enter your name in the name box (entering your website, if you have one, is totally optional)
5. Click on the orange "Publish your comment" button and your done.

Memorial Service Plans Update

Karen's Memorial Service will take place at the Healing Place of Wake County on Sunday, July 29 at 4:00 pm, 1251 Goode Street Raleigh, NC 27603, Phone: (919) 838-9800

DIRECTIONS TO THE HEALING PLACE OF WAKE COUNTY,
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND MEN'S CENTER:
From I-440/Cary Area:
Taking I-440 from the East, take the Lake Wheeler Road Exit (#297). From the exit ramp, turn left toward the Farmer’s Market (there will be a sign). Go past the Farmer’s Market and take the first left after crossing the railroad tracks onto Goode Street (You will see a teal and white sign for The Healing Place). The Healing Place will be the first building immediately on your right.

From Downtown Raleigh:
Go on Dawson St. south to Lenoir Street
Make right on Lenoir Street
Left on South Saunders Street
Right on Lake Wheeler Road
Pass Dorothea Dix Hospital on your right
After the crest of the hill, look to make a right on Goode Street
Turn on Goode Street, the building is on your right

From Durham/Chapel Hill:
East on I-40 (Note: Get in the left lanes after passing the Airport exits. Wade Avenue exits to the right just past the Harrison Avenue exit. It is very easy to become trapped in the Wade Avenue lanes. I-40 continues from the left lanes at this split.) Take exit 297 at Lake Wheeler Road. You will notice direction signs for The Farmers Market. Follow these. Just after the turn to the Farmers’ Market, you will cross the railroad tracks. Turn left at the next street, Goode Street. The building is on the right.

Some Photos of Karen

Thought I'd share some photos I'd received. Above is a great shot of Karen holding Toddy, sent to me by her friend Kathy Thomas. Thanks, Kathy. Karen loved gardening and her house shows her love of working the landscape. Here, it's in front of her azaleas.

And below is Karen on a trip with Kathy last October to the Brunswick County Beaches with which she was so familiar .

Toddy Needs a Good Home

The adorable tabby in the pictures above is Karen's cat, Toddy. He is very friendly, as you can see, and he needs a good home. Because Toddy has never lived with dogs and someone here allergic to cats, I cannot take Toddy home. He has lived at her house during her illness, and we visit him every day, but he is really wanting some affection. He is an indoor/outdoor cat so preferably his next home won't be near any busy roads or have any dogs. He is on the smallish side and is not a finicky eater. If there is someone out there who would like to give Toddy a home that matches that description, he sure would provide plenty of purring back to you. But be advised, he hogs the remote control, seriously. It was actually kind of a good thing because Karen could always find the remote by looking under him. If interested in Toddy, call Paul or me at 618-5541 or 215-6467, respectively (Or see us at the Memorial Service).

Newspaper Obituary Published

Karen's obituary was published today in the News and Observer here, and the Wilmington Star News here. Evidently, the Star News only puts the photos of the deceased in their print edition.

Memorial Service Plans

Arrangements for a memorial service are being made. No place or date is set yet obviously, but it looks like we are in agreement to try to arrange for it Sat July 28th or Sun July 29th. We will post new information here as we know more. FRIDAY 7/20 UPDATE: The place is set...the memorial service will be at The Healing Place...map/directions to be posted soon. Still working on the exact date, but it's definitely going to be in the afternoon of the 28th or 29th. Monday 7/23 Update: See details above but the service will be Sunday July 29th at 4:00.

If anyone has photos of Karen they would like to display at the service, please leave a comment on how to contact you or contact Paul Nicholson at 618-5541 or Bruce Nicholson at 215-6467.

Karen's Passing

Karen had been in the Hospice Unit for the last 10 days or so. She has been getting progressively weaker during that time and has been straddling two worlds for a few days now. She passed into the next world completely this morning at 7:45 AM. She was was not conscious at the end, and her death this morning came in a pain-free calm. She just stopped breathing very peacefully.