Karen Alison Hadden

We are heartbroken to share that Karen Hadden passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2019. A loving, creative and courageous spirit, Karen leaves a profound legacy that will be felt by family and friends around the world.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 16, 1943, Karen had a fearless attitude that led her on adventures of fun and discovery throughout her life. As a young girl, she moved to the west coast with parents Walter and Patricia Forsberg. Her younger sister Lindsay and brothers Stephen and Curtis were born after the family arrived in B.C.

Karen attended Vancouver’s Prince of Wales High School, graduating in 1961. The caring and supportive friends she made in her years there would prove to be a beautiful source of love and inspiration over the decades.

Karen’s boundless curiosity and spirit of adventure took her on many travels around the globe. As a young woman, she packed her bags and boarded a ship across the Pacific, then embarked on a journey through Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. She explored European galleries and cobblestoned streets, swam in the sparkling blue sea around Greek islands, savoured storybook villages in the Alps and walked on the Great Wall of China. Whether in New York City or a small village on the Yangtze River, Karen savoured every opportunity for new discovery and greeted people and cultures with a deep sense of respect and wonder.

Among Karen’s many talents was a gift for words and language. She applied this to forge a successful career in advertising, writing the enduring “Super, Natural British Columbia” slogan, and countless other print and broadcast pieces for iconic brands.

A lifelong learner, Karen returned to UBC as a mature student and immersed herself in her studies, earning a place on the Dean’s List and passionately engaging with new knowledge and discovery. It was during this period that Karen suffered a devastating brain aneurysm. She would live with its effects for 20 years, always with a courage and dignity that inspired those around her.

Karen’s most important and treasured role was as a mother to her daughter Harper, and later a grandmother to Andrew and Ali, who adored their beloved Kiki and whom she showered with love and affection at every opportunity. Her loss is profound and heartbreaking, but the love and wisdom Karen shared during her lifetime serves as a guiding light to those who hold her in their memory.

Karen is lovingly remembered by daughter Harper (Mike), grandchildren Andrew and Ali, sister Lindsay Forsberg, brothers Stephen and Curtis Forsberg, and cherished family and friends around the world. The family wishes to thank the compassionate and dedicated staff at Amica Arbutus Manor, who brought great comfort in recent years. In keeping with Karen’s wishes, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a charity of your choice would be gratefully received. Karen’s beautiful smile, kindness, and determination in the face of adversity were an inspiration to so many people who will carry her in their hearts forever.