Karen Rae Ortega

Karen Rae Ortega came into this world on December 31st, 1954. Life began in Boise, Idaho as the youngest child and only daughter of Charles "Chuck" and Ione "IyIy" Kiser, and the kid sister of brothers Mike and Gary. She loved gardening with her father, adventuring with her brothers, and bickering with her mother. They called her "Sissy," but only in the sister sense, for she grew up preferring the outdoors -- a fierce and rambunctious tomboy who loved to play in the mud, climb trees, and ride horses. Animals were always of great interest to her, and she also loved school, was a voracious reader, and got great pleasure in correcting her brother's spelling. Her father, Chuck, worked for H.U.D. and the family moved often, finding their way to Fresno, California in 1959 before learning to call the Los Angeles area home. They resided in Pico Rivera, Granada Hills, and eventually moved to Highland Park in 1966.

There, while attending Washington Irving Junior High, Karen had the good fortune of meeting the love of her life, Frederick Ortega. She was Student Body President, and he the president of the Boy's League, and they debated fiercely over whether the leadership groups should attend a showing of 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Lion in Winter. He won by one vote, frustrating her greatly, a fact she enjoyed needling him about for the duration of their time together. On November 1, 1969, at the ages of 13 (him) and 14 (her) he asked her to 'go steady' with him. She said "yes" and thus began a rare and lasting young love. They were soulmates in the truest sense of the word.

Karen wed Fred on June 1, 1974. He was 18, and she 19. She looked radiant with her long blonde hair in a beautiful white dress, and he looked ruggedly handsome with his long brown hair and groovy plaid pants. They honeymooned in Hawaii where Karen learned the dangers of eating too much before riding in small airplanes over active volcanos.

After marriage Karen spent her twenties with Fred in San Diego, California, living off love and eating the dates off the calendar. They lived in the city proper, as well as the Mission Hills and Lemon Grove areas. Together they attended classes at San Diego and Grossmont City Colleges, cultivating a love of learning and discovering a shared interest in classical symphonies and sonatas through a music appreciation class. Karen worked as a secretary for a trucking company, and continued pursuing her passion for animals as a veterinary assistant. Children proved elusive for a time, so two cats, a rabbit, a bird, and a wonderful dog named "Goldie" served as their kids. San Diego also introduced to Karen the world and camaraderie of the rose society. Soon she was competing in rose shows, winning 'Best Novice,' and planting 70 rose bushes in her home garden.

1986 gifted Karen with two new loves of her life, Jonathan Charles and Katherine Rose, her baby twins. Though motherhood cannot define her, she was the definitive example of the perfect Mom. Her children knew nothing but the joy of her unconditional love and the warmth of her ever open arms. Mornings were spent snuggling in bed with 'Mama' as she read The Hobbit, and each day was a new adventure full of bike rides and walks and gardening and learning. By 4 years old her twins could tell you that D.N.A. stood for Deoxyribonucleic Acid and sing you the opening fanfare to Star Wars. She was fiercely protective, but also knew the value of encouraging a child's imagination by sending them outside to climb a tree. Her hands were made for holding, her arms for making the world feel safe. She had a way of making you feel better about yourself with just a few words, though she'd offer more than a few to make sure of it. She was simply the best of all possible mothers.

After two years as a foursome in San Diego the Ortegas followed Fred's job to the Inland Empire, moving to the then-small town of Temecula, California in 1988. In 1990 a local photographer snapped a photo of Karen tending her rose bushes with her twins and published it in the local paper. As a result of the publication a local gardening club came calling, and while educating them on proper pruning practices she realized that the reason they needed her to teach them was that there was no rose society in Temecula. She realized it was up to her to change that.

Karen convinced the same paper that published her photo to announce a meeting for rose enthusiasts. 13 lovely ladies showed up, and by the end of the meeting they became the charter members of the Temecula Valley Rose Society led by Karen as the founding president. After two years of fundraising, the budding rosarians convinced a local businessman to donate a plot of land for the purposes of planting a public rose garden. Thus was born the Johnson Family Community Rose Garden, though you may know it now as the Rose Haven Heritage Garden. It still blooms, its blossoms more beautiful every year, its every petal a testament to the passion of its planters and their persuasive president.

In 1992 Karen's twins, obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, convinced her to enroll them in TaeKwonDo. Karen's vocally enthusiastic parenting style soon led the instructor to give her an ultimatum: "Join, or stop attending classes." Soon Karen was punching and kicking along with her kids. As they climbed the ranks the master of the school noticed her good rapport with the younger students and asked her to assist in teaching them. Before long she was teaching multiple classes, all the while honing her own skills and growing into a formidable martial artist. Boards were broken. Black belts were earned. Butts were kicked.

Karen bought Temecula Valley TaeKwonDo in 1997. She toed the line between stern disciplinarian and beloved matron, earning both the respect and love of her students. Her children grew up teaching alongside her as it became a true family business. Eventually they would leave for college, but her interest and dedication never waned in their absence. Teaching was as much her calling as motherhood and gardening; a room full of students proved the perfect outlet for her infinite compassion, wisdom, and love. Ever the humble student herself, she never stopped training. She worked hard and earned the rank of 'Master,' and would go on to become a fearsome 6th degree black belt. Always ambitious, she taught 5 nights a week, added Tai Chi classes in the afternoons, and added day camps during the summer. Demonstrations were given at local schools and events. Her students competed in many tournaments, winning countless medals. At the school's peak she had 180 concurrent students, and in her 17 years she bettered thousands of lives. In 2014 she retired so she could spend more time with her husband.

Through it all Karen remained the greatest mother, wife, teacher, and friend. She had a habit of semi-adopting extra family members she felt would benefit from her attention -- Ashley, Chase, R.S, Megan, Jeff, Cheryl, and countless more. She made lifelong friends from chance encounters everywhere she went, from the pharmacy to the gym. She made herself a part of the lives of her students far beyond the classroom, attending graduations, piano recitals, birthday parties -- anytime anyone needed her she sought to be there for them. She had more love for everyone than can be comprehended, and a willingness to share it that reflected her generous, loving, compassionate soul.

She was proud to see her children become straight-A students in high school who went on to graduate from U.S.C. on their way to becoming successful professional musicians. She was proud to see her Rose Society flourish, and the rose garden she planted bloom into one of Temecula's most beautiful attractions. She was proud of her business, her achievements, and the lives she changed as a teacher. She was proud of her growing family, to be the mother-in-law to Jonathan's beautiful wife, Alyssa, whom she loved dearly and thought to be the smartest woman on the planet. She was proud to finally be a grandmother to the most recent love of her life, baby William, who joined the family in January of 2016. And she was especially proud of her 47 years with Fred - her childhood sweetheart, her soulmate, her true love - that every day of their lives they set an example of what love was supposed to be for all around them to aspire to.

Karen Ortega left this world on December 18, 2016. She went peacefully, napping on the couch, beside her beloved husband, home at last after a recent hospital stay battling anemia. She leaves behind a legacy of love, and beauty, and lives improved by her presence. Her loss is keenly felt by all who knew her, and the world is a poorer place for her absence. She is remembered by her brothers, Mike and Gary, by her children, Jonathan and Katherine, by her grandson, William, and by her beloved husband, Fred.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Arthritis National Research Foundation (curearthritis.org).