Karen Jean Gandarillas, age 64 of Gahanna, passed away on Monday, October 24, 2022 after her courageous battle with cancer. She was born on January 1, 1958, in Lancaster, Ohio to Gene and Patricia (Greene) Von Ins.
Karen grew up and lived most of her life in Ashville, Ohio where she graduated from Teas Valley High School. After working for several employers out of high school, Karen found Nationwide Insurance and served for 36 years in administrative roles until her retirement in 2021 as a Senior Executive Secretary. Karen was known throughout the company for her strong work ethic, professional and expert advice, positive relationships, volunteer actions, and trusted reputation.
Karen’s faith, hope and love have been solid throughout her life. As a life-long Christian and an active member of Village Chapel Church, Karen served in leadership roles and as a service lay leader. She supported all church programs and attended services regularly. She shared her faith, inspired others with her personal messages, and exhibited love with her genuine smile, infectious spirit, and comforting hugs. She took great pride in being a messenger with her “Come and See” and “People Must Know” encouragement as she helped others find their faith.
Karen battled breast, brain, liver and spinal cord cancer. While cancer may have won the battle, it never won the war because Karen’s faith, hope and love never faltered. She conquered many personal battles while mentoring other cancer patients and caregivers. She is a champion of faith, hope and love. For several years, Karen participated in the Susan G. Komen Columbus Race for the Cure. Joined and supported by many that loved her, Team Karen Gandarillas finished as the top fundraising team in the 2022 Columbus Race for the Cure.
Karen was a creative quilter, engaging in a wide variety of quilt styles, who enjoyed gifting quilts to family and friends. She liked to remind us that quilts are meant to be used and that she could always replace a worn quilt. She took time to share her quilting knowledge and sought new quilt techniques from others. She was known for recruiting friends into the quilting family. Karen was also a devoted chocolatier. For many decades, as an annual holiday tradition, she brought together family and friends to make pounds and pounds of delicious chocolate treats. Everyone benefited from the annual tradition as Karen shared the chocolates – even mailing the treats to family and friends in other states.
Karen is known as the motivator and organizer for family gatherings. She made sure that family came first on birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Using cards, email, texting or phone calls, Karen did not miss sending birthday, anniversary, get well, motivational, and sympathy messages.
Karen was an avid traveler and had a special love for the beach. Along with traveling, she had a passion for recognizing military service members, especially since her husband and brother-in-law served in the military. She was an enthusiastic volunteer for Nationwide Insurance military honor events and a very active volunteer with Honor Flight Columbus. One of her biggest thrills was being a Guardian for three veterans during an Honor Flight and making quilts as gifts for veterans.
Left to cherish Karen’s memory are her devoted husband, Richard Gandarillas; two caring sons, David (Kyah Fernandez) Ocker and Ryan Gray; loving mother, Patricia Von Ins; beloved four-legged companion, Teddy the goldendoodle; brother, Don Von Ins; niece, Jessica Von Ins; nephew, Branden Von Ins; and three grandchildren, Lukas Ocker, Aiden Ocker, and Emma Fernandez.
Karen is preceded in death by her father, Gene Von Ins.
The family will receive guests on Thursday, November 3, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Schoedinger Margarum Northeast, 1051 Johnstown Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230 as well as on Friday, November 4, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Village Chapel Church, 30 Viking Way, Ashville, OH 43103.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, November 4, at 11:00 a.m. at Village Chapel Church. Interment to follow at Reber Hill Cemetery in Ashville, OH.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Karen’s memory to the Village Chapel Church, Honor Flight Columbus, or Susan G. Komen Columbus Race for the Cure.
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