Karen Leslie Silvestri

Born: December 16, 1946, West Virginia

Died: May 5, 2021, New Bern, North Carolina

This webpage was created in memory of Karen Silvestri, a loving wife, mother of four, grandmother of eight, and mother-in-law to a loved In-Laws Club.

Karen’s father worked for the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) and Chessie System Railroad and she spent her youth growing up in Pennsylvania and Maryland. When her children were young, she filled their story time with the memories of her childhood which often included stories of her dad’s adventures working on the railroad and car rides that ended “unexpectedly” with Pepsi and ice cream.

Karen earned a bachelor’s degree from Pikeville College in Kentucky where she found her passion for teaching and helping others. As her children got older Karen paused her teaching career to be a full-time mother and one of the proudest Navy wives.

She and her husband Mike with their four children moved frequently around the U.S., including to Virginia; Michigan; Maine; Guam; Mississippi; New York; and Maryland. Due to the many moves, she adopted the saying, “Home is where the Navy sends you”. There was nothing more important to Karen than ensuring that her family felt loved and safe no matter where the Navy sent them. After her four children moved away, they quickly realized home was really wherever Mom and Dad lived.

When returning home to visit, her children were always amazed by the people their Mom had touched. They often heard comments like “your Mom is the sweetest person” or “your Mom is so amazing” whether it be from their friends, wait staff, store clerks or any of the other local places she frequented. Karen made time for everyone!

Karen is survived by her husband Mike; her children; Mike Jr., Becky, Danny, and Katie; her eight grandchildren, and her siblings Vicki, Bruce, and Carrie. Karen’s family requests that in lieu of a service, find a way to honor her life’s purpose by reaching out and spending time with family and loved ones.

Later in life, Karen continued to dedicate her time to teaching by volunteering at literacy centers when she lived in Mississippi and more recently in New Bern, NC. The family asks in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Craven Literacy Council located in New Bern, NC.

To donate, click on http://cravenliteracy.org/support.html, the green DONATE NOW button on the left of the webpage will connect you with their PayPal donation site. Under special instructions, you may add a comment that the donation is in honor of Karen.

Arrangements are held by Cotten Funeral Home and Crematory.