Karen Sonia Gerard

Karen was a graduate of Morrison Glace Bay High School and went on to graduate from the Cape Breton Business College. She then left her beloved Cape Breton to go to Toronto to find work. After a couple of years in Toronto she made Hamilton her home for almost 40 years. Karen worked for Home Depot, Burlington store at the time of her illness and tried everyday to go there as she felt they were her extended family and it made her feel good to be around them. When she could no longer work she still made visits to the store to see the people she so dearly loved.

Karen was an amazing sister, friend and confident. Although she was a private and independent person, once she touched your life you had a forever friend. Her love and respect of all animals could be clearly seen. A home was not a home without a cat, a dog or some other living creature. Karen had a great zest for life and lived it to the fullest.

Left to mourn her passing are her brother, Myron (Charlene) and her sister, Elaine. Also left behind are best friends; Carl Gerard, Anita MacDonald, Mira Bates, Billy Bates, and Stan Carey who stood beside her through this long and courageous battle. Also left to mourn are her nephews; Aaron Cohen, Matthew Cohen, and Jason Cohen, her extended family at the Home Depot store in Burlington, Ontario and her extended family Rosalie and Danny, Matthew and Tanya Bates. Her beloved cat, Benson, who never left her side is also left behind and grieving.

Karen was predeceased by our parents, Saul and Libby (Katz) Cohen.

Services for Karen will be held at Patten Funeral Home in Glace Bay on Tuesday, June 26,2012 at 11:00 am. Donations in Karen’s memory may be made to the Cape Breton, SPCA. Words of comfort may be left for the family at: www.pattenfuneral.com