The family of Karen Ruth Skochinski announce the passing of our lovely wife, sister, mother and, in her life, a treasured friend to many, in the early hours of Wednesday November 27, 2024.
Karen Ruth was born to two dedicated parents, Joyce Lavaun Sharpe (Kingsbury) and Frank Edward Sharpe. She was the first born of two daughters, Karen and her sister Janet. Her parents were of English and American (Norwegian) ancestry and established a family home on Brock Street in Westfort, Fort William. Their modest home was where they established life-long friends through their membership at First Church United. Karen’s youth was centred around Francis Street School and the church directly across the street from each other.
Joyce and Frank instilled the importance of higher education and that their children be grounded in music and culture. Many family trips were made to the Stratford Festival and both girls took to piano lessons and joined the junior choir. Valiantly, Frank and his buddies struggled to move a purchased piano down rickety stairs to get the instrument in their home. This eventually became her son Alexander’s first piano.
Music was a strong component in their lives. Joyce and Frank wanted to open up more opportunities than what had been available to them. Karen was a voracious reader and would often get reprimanded by her teachers because she read far ahead of her class. Undeterred she knew she was in the right and continued. Karen took up the flute at Fort William Collegiate Institute. Here she bloomed academically in history, music and literature but not so well in math. Karen secured the principal flute chair in the Thunder Bay Youth Symphony at 17 years old. This became the launching pad, putting her into direct contact with other gifted and dedicated young musicians. Karen also met and formed life-long bonds with her classmates.
Karen’s academic talents secured her a position on the FWCI Reach for the Top team. This was her prerequisite into the world of Jeopardy. The high school team included her friend Dr. Blair Schoales, as they competed with other local high schools. The FWCI team took the 1974 city championships and travelled to Toronto to compete in the Provincial playoffs.
Karen met her future husband, Don, playing music, rehearsing and performing Haydn London Trios with Don on cello. They became virtually inseparable. Sparks did fly from time to time, however. Her father Frank commented to Joyce, “What do they see in each other?” Joyce replied calmly, “They are building a relationship” which they did.
Karen graduated from FWCI with a full scholarship to Lakehead University but chose to pursue studies at York University in Toronto where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. It was at York where she continued life-long friendships with Carol Payne, Page Willson and Anne Gentleman. Carol was able visit with Karen for a memorable weekend before Karen was unable to walk this past October.
After graduation Karen took a position as a technical writer with York University’s Computing Department. Karen and Don were reunited when Karen accepted the Communications Officer position with the Lakehead Board of Education in 1983. The fires were burning when Karen and Don married on July 5, 1985 at First Church United. Janet Sharpe was her maid-of-honour with Carol, Page and Anne as bridesmaids.
Karen had a strong interest in public health and accepted a position with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit working on the no smoking by-law initiative. Her logic and precise arguments on the benefits of protecting public spaces gave her a platform to work with people to make our city a better and healthier place to live and work. Her work with Thunder Bay District Health Unit earned her and her team a national communications award. Karen received the Award of Merit – The Silver Leaf Awards in 1997 from the International Association of Business Communicators for her work on the Smoking Cessation campaign in Northwestern Ontario. Later she held positions with the Canadian Mental Health Association, Thunder Bay Art Gallery and Confederation College in a communications capacity. Karen also volunteered as Reach for the Top judge for a few years before the local TV production was terminated.
Karen was blessed with a family. Alexander was born in June of 1988 followed by Claire in December, 1990. They established a home on Mary Street in Westfort before moving to Mount Forest Boulevard close to the Kamview Nordic Ski Trails. The family took up cross country skiing to take advantage of this outdoor gem outside their front door.
Karen supported and served on the Board of Directors for the VON, was a board member of the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium and an enthusiastic volunteer coach for the Kamview Jackrabbits Cross Country ski school. She embraced the outdoors and camping with her family in her youth, biking, cross country skiing, kayaking and swimming at her home in Pine Bay on Lake Superior.
Travel was embraced by Karen who could now visit the historical past throughout the world. Art, music, and theatre were always central to her travel plans. A most memorable trip was the result of her success at trivia. Karen auditioned and secured a contestant position on Jeopardy in 1999. Her Reach for the Top training saw her take the coveted title of Jeopardy Champion. In keeping with her desire to support friends and local cancer care, she organized a fundraising Jeopardy Viewing Party with live band to raise funds for the Thunder Bay Cancer Research Centre. Her winning trip to Hawaii was a highpoint in the family’s life as we were able to take the children along with her mother Joyce, Don’s mother Rose as well as being joined by her sister Janet and future brother-in-law Doug Thrush. Another travel highlight was her trip to Scotland with her oldest friend Barb Swoluk where they watched the Queen’s funeral cortege through Edinburgh. Karen was able to travel extensively in Canada, US, Europe and Australia.
How she did love to dance. Be it a cruise ship, concert venues, RBC Dominion Securities Directors Council, B. B. King’s House of Blues or her yard, if the music was right Karen was the first person to hit the dance floor.
Karen’s life-long friendships included the Sunburst Unit from First Church United. She was always connecting with friends and family and attended a number of family reunions of her extended American family in Minnesota. Karen’s family visited with many relatives of the Sharpe, Kingsbury, Huseth and Halverson families. Her American cousins openly welcomed the once lost and newly discovered branch of their family in Canada. Karen’s roots can be traced back to 1630 as part of the great migration from England to the New World. One of the eleven Winthrop Fleet ships carried Henry and Margaret Kingsbury (nineth-great grandparents) who settled in Haverhill, Mass.
Karen watched as her children grew into young adults and broaden their horizons. Having Alexander settle into a career and marry Meghan Casey was a cherished moment. Watching Claire remake herself and graduate from Lakehead University in nursing was another special and proud moment.
As Karen’s health created challenges, she continued to demonstrate how strong and resilient she was. She never felt sorry for herself. The last six months were the most difficult with an unrecoverable diagnosis. Undeterred, she moved forward.
The family is grateful for the unwavering support of her sister Janet and husband Doug along with Karen’s daughter Claire as Karen remained at the family home on Memory Road, Neebing. Claire took on the commitment in her first and toughest nursing position, caring for her mother. Alexander and wife Meghan were able to visit in November and spent time filled with laughter, music and superb cuisine. The family would like to thank their many friends and wonderful neighbours who have provided support and comfort during this challenging time.
Thanks go out to all the medical professionals that impressed us with their dedication and high-level of patient care. This includes Dr. Francesco Capecchi and the Neurology team at USZ Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland, as well as Karen’s Thunder Bay care team Dr. Graeme Marchuk, Dr. Adrien Chan, Dr. Ruth Ann. Williams, Dr. Kevin Bezanson, Nurse Practitioner Megan Ross, Dr. Katrina Ward, Cole Taylor and Angie Girvin, our talented Occupational Therapist. The excellent PSW team from Victoria Order of Nurses VON were a blessing. Sandra Shymko, our great friend, assisted Karen in her final hours and we acknowledge her love and care. We also note the great support, care and concern from the superb team at Rexall Woit’s Pharmacy. We love you all.
Karen leaves to us to carry on with her legacy of respect for all and her goal towards making this world a better place for everyone. She now entrusts this to her husband Donald, children Alexander (Meghan), Claire, her sister Janet Sharpe and husband Douglas Thrush of Ottawa. Cousins include, Sue Brauer (Kingsbury) and husband Tom Brauer of Vancouver, B. C. Jon Kingsbury (Anita), Kathy Dillon, Laura Kingsbury and husband Dennis Hanley, Vicki Smith (Ian), Don (Marlene) Cotter of PEI and Barrie Ontario, Linda (Bruce) Hemmings of Toronto. Our always special Aunt Mary Ann Kingsbury, brother-in-law Michael Skochinski (Judy) of Exeter, ON and his sons Trevor Skochinski, Craig (Tracey) and their son Connor Michael who was born 12 hours prior to Karen’s passing. Brother-in-law Jim (Giulia) Skochinski nieces Jennifer Skochinski and Rebekah Skochinski and her husband Jon Nelson all of Thunder Bay.
Karen was predeceased by parents Frank and Joyce Sharpe, aunt Irene and uncles Carl Kingsbury, and Warren Kingsbury, aunt Christine (William) Cotter, grandparents Clara and Victor Kingsbury, and cousin Ken (Anne) Kingsbury. Her mother-in-law Rosalia (Rose) Skochinski, husband Walter Skochinski and nephew Jordan beloved son of Michael and Judy Skochinski.
A celebration of a life well-lived is pending for January 2025 and a notice will be published after arrangements have been completed. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, the Northern Cancer Fund, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, Ontario Health Coalition or a charity of your choice be made in Karen’s memory.
