Karen Jean Blakeman's Obituary
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother and wife, Karen Blakeman, on February 25, 2023. She passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family. Karen was born on March 14,1946 in Brockton, MA, to Kenneth and Eleanor Rutledge. She was a devoted daughter, sister to Ken Rutledge, wife, and mother. She met her husband, Lester Blakeman, after moving to Delaware with her family when she was a young adult and they were married on November 25, 1967. They raised their three children, Deb, Chris and Les, in Dover, Delaware, where they built a beautiful life together. Their family grew to include a son in law, Marc, daughter in law, Julia, 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Karen was a woman of extraordinary warmth and generosity. She had a heart full of love and was always willing to go above and beyond for those she cared about. Her family was her greatest joy, and she devoted herself tirelessly making sure they were happy. She instilled in them the values of kindness, compassion, and integrity, which they carry with them to this day. In addition to being a devoted mother, Karen was also an accomplished teacher. She had a passion for helping children in the public school where she worked as well as her church. She was a valued member of the First Baptist Church, where she was known for her kindness, caring, and her unwavering commitment to the betterment of her community and church family. Karen will be deeply missed by her husband, her children, her brother, and her many friends and colleagues. Her passing is a tremendous loss to all who knew her. We take comfort in knowing that her legacy will live on in the countless lives she touched and the memories she created. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at First Baptist Church, 301 Walker Road in Dover. Friends may gather at 10:00 AM prior to the service which begins at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate
Letters of condolences may be sent to http://www.traderfh.com
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