South Glens Falls,
Karen (Christensen) Kopf, 69, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at Albany Medical Center.
Born in Mineloa, NY, on February 13, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Marion (Olsen) Christensen.
She was a 1967 graduate of Lindenhurst High School and attended her 50th High School Reunion in 2017.
On May 27, 2006, she married Christopher Kopf at St Andrew Lutheran Church in South Glens Falls.
Karen worked at Glens Falls Hospital and at a physician’s office after moving to Glens Falls in the early 1980’s. She provided day-care for many children in her home while her own children were young. She worked for Head Start as a family educator where she enjoyed working with many different families. Karen earned her real estate license and most recently worked for the South Glens Falls School District as a school bus driver.
She was an active member of Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, serving as an Assisting Minister, Communion Assistant, and board member. She served on the committee that established the Fisherman’s Net, the before and after school program at the church, and volunteered many times there. She especially enjoyed the diversity and acceptance at this ELCA Church.
She was a certified EMT and an active member of the the Moreau Emergency Squad for the past 16 years, where she went on nearly 3,000 emergency calls. She was elected to 1st lieutenant in December 2017. Over the past 16 years she was elected to many different positions in the squad and selected as a First Responder with a medical kit, oxygen, and an AED in her car at all times. She attained Life Member status in 2017. She was involved in the recruitment of man past and present squad members.
Thanks to her son Kristopher, Karen opened her doors to many college students who needed a place to stay while they were earning their degrees. She considered them as her bonus sons and daughters. They included Daniel Kronske (BA/MST), Dr. Pooja Flora (BS/PhD), Tahera Khimji, RN, (BS/AS/BSN), Richard Adickes (BS), and Ray Cunningham-Francis (BA). Recently, she accepted guardianship of her niece, Ashley Baines, so she could complete High School in South Glens Falls.
Karen enjoyed sitting on her front porch with a glass of wine, crocheting many baby blankets, touring the United States by RV, going to garage sales, and shopping with her daughter-in-law, bonus daughters and granddaughter. She also enjoyed volunteering as an EMT at Camp Unirondack in Lowville, NY.
Left to cherish her memories are her husband Christopher J. Kopf; sons, John Bonn and wife Julie, Kristofer Fiore, and Joshua Fiore; her step-sons, Andrew Kopf and his fiancée, Ashley Duryea and Matthew Kopf; her grandchildren, Justin Bonn and Megan Bonn (Nathaniel “Nate” Waldron); her sister, June Champion; her brother, Richard Christensen and wife Sandy; her father-in-law and mother in-law, Dr. Alfred and Dorothy Kopf; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins, friends, and her beloved bonus sons and daughters.
Friends may call from 4-7pm on Friday, September 7, 2018, at M. B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 136 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803.
A memorial service will be conducted at 1pm on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, 600 Gansevoort Rd, South Glens Falls, NY 12803 with Rev. Joyce Fiore, pastor, officiating. The Moreau Emergency Squad will offer a light meal immediately following.
Burial will be private and at convenience of the family.
The family would like to thank the Moreau Emergency Squad, LifeNet of New York and many doctors, nurses and staff Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Medical Center for their compassionate care of Karen.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you, instead, make memorial contributions in loving memory of Karen to Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, 600 Gansevoort Rd, South Glens Falls, NY 12803, or Moreau Emergency Squad, 1583 Route 9, Moreau, NY 12828 or Camp Unirondack, P.O. Box 7880, New York, NY 10116.
To view Karen’s Book of Memories and post online condolences, please visit kilmerfuneralhome.com.
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