Karen Hawrysz

Karen Sue Hawrysz was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and a cherished friend. She was active and involved in the everyday lives of those who were close to her. Whether crafting or knitting, babysitting grandchildren or calling on the phone, Karen was thinking of others and made life good for them all. Karen was born at a time when World War II dominated American life. While men went off to war, women were drawn into the workplace, which gave them a taste of competence and independence that they would hold onto even when men returned to their jobs after the war. Television was becoming more available to the public, and a digital computer, weighing 30 tons and standing two stories high, was first built. With all these changes came one more for Richard and Marion (Groulx) Pattenger of Muskegon, Michigan, who welcomed their first child on October 25, 1942 and named her Karen Sue. The family lived in the Jackson Hill neighborhood on Marquette Avenue and attended First Congregational Church, where Karen sang in the choir. She and her brother had a fairly typical childhood, as siblings do, which was a combination of closeness that kept secrets from their parents and rivalry that pointed the finger of blame at one another. Above all, they knew the love and care of both parentsfrom their father, a funeral director at Clock Funeral Home and their mother, a registered nurse. Karen attended Froebel School in Muskegon and made friends with two girlsBarb and Juliethat lasted a lifetime. As time would tell, Karens ability to make friends was a blessing in her personal as well as professional life. After graduating from Muskegon High School in 1960, Karen went on to Muskegon Business School to learn secretarial skills, as many young women did in those years, and the training did her well. She was first employed at Hackley Hospital before going to work at Bennett Pump. That job was fortunate in more ways than oneit was where she met her future husband. Joe Hawrysz and Karen began a dating relationship that became serious yet provided them with at least one funny story. When Joe went to Karens house, he had to put up with the antics of the familys pet dog, Mitzi. Every time Joe attempted to put his arm around Karen, Mitzi would growl at him. Still, despite the disruptions, love prevailed and the couple married on March 18, 1972. They first settled into a mobile home in North Muskegon and eventually bought a house on Fink Street in Norton Shores. Joe had a daughter from a previous marriage, Lisa, who lived with them from time to time during the early years of marriage. In 1975, Melissa was born to Karen and Joe and twin boys, Jason and Jeff, followed in 1976. Karen loved being a mom and was very invested in her childrens lives, including putting her secretarial skills to work at the Girl Scout office. As a family, they made fun trips to the Upper Peninsula to see Tahquamenon Falls and to Arkansas to visit extended family. For a short time, Karen and Joe moved the family to Ohio for his work, but they soon returned to the Muskegon area and eventually settled into a home on Bayview in Norton Shores. They picked up their lives with family and friendsthe annual Labor Lay Cookout being at least one venue for all of them to gather. For the most part, Karen was a homebody. She liked to knit, crochet, stitch needlepoint as well as craft ceramics for a number of years. Her creations became gifts that she enjoyed giving to family members. She maintained a bird feeder in the backyard and kept a bird book nearby so she could identify the variety of birds that came to the feeder. Most often when Karen sat to watch TV, it was to cheer her sports teams: the Detroit Tigers, NASCAR racing, and any sport Michigan State University played. Karens own favorite sport was talking on the phone with family and friends. When her kids grew up and were out on their own, it was typical for Karen to call them several times a day. Jokingly, they said she never made quick callseven the shortest seemed to last 30 minutes. Yet that regular communication was probably what helped Karen maintain her longterm friendships with Julie Burke, Vickie Voorhies and Barb Friday. Karens sociability went to work when she took a job as a Food Demonstrator at Sams Club in Muskegon. She was very approachable, visiting with people who came by her station, and successful to the degree that she eventually became the Demo Department Supervisor of that division. However, when she became a grandmother, Karen retired from Sams Club after 10 years so she could help babysit her grandchildren. She was thrilled to spend more time with them and didnt mind the regular drive to Zeeland to care for them. In the fall of 2012, Karen began experiencing some health problems, and it was discovered that she had a brain tumor. She had surgery, received radiation treatment and was undergoing chemotherapy. Ultimately, the procedures weakened her body, and Karen had a heart attack that took her life on Monday, February 25, 2013. Throughout her illness, Karen retained a great attitude as she fought hard against the disease. She loved life and made it beautiful for all those who had the privilege of knowing her in her 70 years of life. Mrs. Karen S. Hawrysz is survived by her husband of 40 years, Joseph; daughters Lisa (Rob) Krafft of Dayton OH, Melissa (David) Young of Zeeland; sons Jason (Jeannie) Hawrysz of Wake Forest NC, Jeff (Sabrina Veihl) Hawrysz of Muskegon; grandchildren Chris, Noah, Joey, Andrew, Kaylee, Sydney, Cameron; brother John (Debra) Pattenger; mother-in-law Atala Symons of Muskegon; special friends Julie Burke and Vickie Voorhies. She was preceded in death by her parents and special friend, Barb Friday. A service to celebrate Karens life is scheduled for Thursday, February 28, 2013, 2:00 PM at the Clock ChapelMuskegon with Rev. Stephen Lillie officiating. Visitation with the family will take place on Wednesday, 6-8 PM at Clock Funeral HomeMuskegon. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Please visit clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.