Karen R. Kenneally's Obituary
KAREN ROSS KENNEALLY
February 21, 1938- June 29, 2024
Lakewood, Washington. We honor the life and memory of Karen R. Kenneally who passed away at St Clare Hospital on June 29th at the age of 86
Karen R Kenneally passed away on Saturday morning June 29th, 2024. She is survived by her loving family: husband, Thomas; daughter Kari and her husband Doug Leo; grandchildren Stormy Kenneally, Sean Liam Kenneally, and Madison Wahl; great granddaughter Adaleigh; and brother Ross Ewoldsen.
Karen experienced a short illness, was taken to St Clare’s Hospital in Lakewood and was attended to by her entire family. Her husband and daughter stayed with her and were holding her hands when she passed after midnight.
Karen was born on February 21, 2038, in the Crocker Highlands neighborhood in the hills of Oakland, California. She graduated from San Francisco State University and earned a master’s degree in education. She taught at schools in Monterey County and was the lead teacher at the Bard Blades school in Salinas. She was a pioneer in special education and was commended by Monterey County Board of Education for her work in developing curriculum guidelines for the county.
Karen’s father, Ernst Ewoldsen emigrated from Schleswig, Germany with his brother Hans in the nineteen twenties. Schleswig was originally a part of Denmark.
Ernst was a civil engineer who worked projects in California and the Panama Canal. Ernst married Ruth Ross of Oakland. Her family was originally from Elmira, New York. Her forbearers made their way to California in the mid eighteen hundreds and became early residents of Oakland.
Uncle Hans married Ester Pfeiffer of Big Sur. The Pfeiffer’s were a founding family of Big Sur.
In1971, she married Lieutenant Commander Thomas Kenneally in the chapel at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey. He was qualified in submarines, had command of the guided missile destroyer USS Somers DDG-34, and is now retired as a Captain, USN. Long time friend Rosemary Kennedy (nee Underwood) was her maid of honor.
They moved, as required by the Navy, and lived in Norfolk VA, Honolulu, HI and Newport, RI.
In1973, in Virginia, daughter Karen Anne Kenneally came into their lives. In 1977, the family shipped out to Oahu, Hawaii. Karen continued her career as a teacher in Honolulu County schools. One, at Kunia, was in the middle of a pineapple plantation. They lived at McGrew Point near Pearl Harbor and later purchased a house on Poe Place in Waipio.
Karen enjoyed watching Daughter Kari grow up in Oahu, where Kari became a skilled equestrian and also went off to horse camp on the big island (Hawaii)
They arrived in Newport in 1985 for a one-year stay, Karen continues teaching. She also was a guide at Hammersmith Farm, the childhood home of Jacqueline Kennedy. Kari made friends with Janet Auchincloss (Jacqueline Kennedy’s mother), and they would occasionally have tea. Kari would also groom their miniature horses.
In 1986, the family returned to Oahu. They lived initially at Makalapa and then purchased a home on Lelepua Pl in Waipio. Karen became certified as a Montessori teacher and taught at the local
Montessori school. Daughter Kari went to Mililani high school and became an expert sandwich maker at the Pearl Harbor Subway.
By 1992, Tom had retired, and the family moved to Bellevue, WA. After a year, they settled in Steilacoom at 1706 Starling St. Karen continued her teaching career in Federal Way. She resumed her friendship with Rosemary. After years of commuting on I-5, she decided to stay closer to home and became a substitute teacher in the Steilacoom Historic School District No 1.
She and Rosemary joined the “Lunch Bunch”, a delightful and seasoned group of Steilacoom ladies who had a monthly lunch out. Some said the group, which included Lou Duncan, and Jane Light were recruiting younger drivers.
Karen and Tom were present for the births of all three grandchildren:
1994: Granddaughter Stormy Kenneally born at St Clare hospital on August 2nd.
1997: Grandson Sean Liam Kenneally was born at Tacoma General hospital September 27th.
2006: Granddaughter Madison Wahl was born in Tacoma General on June 26th.
Recent Milestones:
2014: Trip to South Bend for Tom’s 50th year Notre Dame Reunion cancelled due to Karen’s knee replacement.
2018: October 26th Celebrated granddaughter Stormy’s Wedding in Las Vagas
October 27th celebrated grandson Sean Liam’s 21st birthday, also in Las Vagas
2022: April 12 Great granddaughter Adaleigh Kenneally-Hogue was born.
2021: 50th wedding anniversary: Due to Covid celebration was put on the bucket list.
2024: June 23rd Celebrated granddaughter Maddy’s 18th birthday.
Karen was a very giving person. She supported many charities including local Catholic Community Services and the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Karen lived a full and eventful life.
She is loved by her husband and family, all of whom lived close by. She will be remembered as an excellent chef who cherished family recipes and loved to try new ones from Cook’s Country and magazines.
Karen was a wonderful mother to Kari and to Stormy and Sean Liam, who lived with us in their early years. Granddaughter Maddy, who arrived later, was very loved and important to her.
Karen will be interred in the Kenneally plot in the Rose Garden section of Mountain View cemetery.
Mountain View Funeral Home is providing services. A graveside ceremony will held at 1:30pm on Tuesday, July 23. Attendees are requested to meet by 1:15 at the parking are at the cemetery entrance.
Following the ceremony about 2:30 pm, a “Celebration of Life” will be held at the Kenneally’s home at 8605 North Way SW. Lakewood
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