Karen Louise Valler Jones

Passed away at the Campbellton Regional Hospital on May 2, 2024 at the age of 91, Mrs. Karen Louise Valler Jones of Balmoral, loving wife of the late Michael Jones.

Born in Middletown, New York on July 24, 1932, daughter of the late Horace Joseph Valler and the late Iva Rae Valler (born Atwood).

She is survived by her children Ariane (the late Daryl) Wasilow of Cold Lake AB; Alexandra Jones (the late Florian Levesque) of Balmoral NB; Victoria Jones (Paul Whitehead) of Toronto ON; and her grandchildren Jérémy Jones (Gabrielle), Julia Bridger (Liam), and Charlotte Jones-Whitehead (Daniel). Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her two brothers, H. Joseph Valler, Jr. and James Atwood Valler.

Karen had an interest in drawing and buildings, and was determined to have architecture be a part of her future. She graduated from Antioch College, Ohio, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (Architecture) in 1956 – one of the first women to do so there. To fulfill the course requirements in the two field-major departments, she also took courses at Columbia University and Hunter College in New York.

While working at the same architectural firm in Boston, Karen met and then married her husband, Michael, in 1958. After living and working in various places, including New Mexico, Seattle, and Jamaica, Karen and Michael immigrated to Canada in 1965, and settled in Toronto to raise their three daughters.

Karen completed a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Toronto in 1972. For a time, she worked for the Province of Ontario. Then, later in her career, her work (and at times Michael’s) took her to various corners of the world, including Malaysia and China. There were also several opportunities for her and Michael to work on the same projects, which they both enjoyed.

Upon retiring in 2003, Karen and Michael moved to Balmoral, in northern New Brunswick. They bought land adjacent to their daughter Alexandra’s property, and Michael designed their new house.

One of their highlights each day in N.B. was taking in the landscapes and nautical views of the Restigouche and Baie-des-Chaleurs areas while driving and sipping coffees they’d picked up at local cafés, such as Croissant Délice in Dalhousie.

Karen’s other keen interest and passion was reading books, such as those about architecture, art, gardening, and cooking. She also devoured fictional literature, through which she spent time in many different times and places around the world. And above all, she took great interest and pride in catching up with her daughters and grandchildren who all loved her dearly.

A private graveside Service will be held at the Campbellton Rural Cemetery on Friday, August 2nd at 2:00 pm.

There will be no visitation at the funeral home.

For those who wish, donations can be made to the Restigouche County SPCA in her memory.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Savoie’s Funeral Home, Campbellton.

(506) 753-7200 or email: [email protected]