KAREN L. DUNN
ST. ALBANS – Karen Leigh Dunn, 55, beloved wife of Thomas J. Dunn died peacefully at 4:38 p.m. March 18, 2006 at her home. Karen was a private person and was alone with her husband Tom at the end of her life. She had been receiving care from sisters Lynn and Lisa at home with the able assistance from Healthreach Hospice. Karen had been waging a nine year battle with cancer and was ultimately beaten by liver failure. The family would like to thank Cancer Care of Maine and Healthreach for the care and love which was provided for Karen. Karen Leigh was born February 5, 1951 at Addison, a daughter of Reuben C. and Carol (Holbrook) Perry, Jr. She attended local schools and grew up with two brothers and two sisters under the watchful eye of their loving mother Carol. Their father Reuben worked for Exxon and was often away at sea. As a child, she would spend hours ice skating on the marshes of Addison alone or with her siblings. She also enjoyed swimming, berry picking and any other activities which found her out in the salt air of the Maine coast. She and her family enjoyed music and played guitars and sang together while growing up.

In the last years of her life Karen became enamored with Delta Blues and spent hours playing her Martin Guitar and singing. Karen was a beautiful, talented, artistic, loving and extremely intelligent person. She was the 1969 Valedictorian of Narraguagus High School, and later attended the University of Maine in Machias and Orono studying Art Education. Karen married Alfred Korenek of Milbridge in 1974 and had her son Ian J. Korenek. They divorced after a couple of years and Ian became her focus and the most joyful thing in her life. Karen met Tom in 1990 and lived with him until they were married on September 14, 1996. Karen immediately became a great step-mom to Tom’s three daughters and has become affectionately known as “Kanny” to the four grandchildren and close family members. Christmas Eve was a special time for Karen and she made sure that the kids had a great time. Until the effects of cancer limited her, Karen enjoyed hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, and gardening. The last years of her life were spent playing guitar, gardening and shopping in Camden. Karen and her husband Tom lived seven years at Harriman Pond in Dedham until purchasing a home in St. Albans a year and a half ago. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Karen’s husband Tom and her Yorkshire Terrier, Gabriel and Cocker Spaniels, Zoe and Maddy will always love and miss dear Kanny and look forward to being with her for eternity in a place free from pain.

Karen will never be forgotten by her loving son, Ian J. Korenek of Orlando, Florida; a brother, Mark Perry of Pepperell, MA; 2 sisters, Lynn Perry of Brooklyn, NY and Lisa and husband Ron Premo of Utica, NY; 3 step-daughters, Olivia and Kelly Dunn, both of Milford, and Casey and husband Steve Cote of Bradley; 4 grandchildren, Ashley, Natasha, Derek, and Owen; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and a brother, Reuben C. Perry, III. Tom would like to say goodbye to the love of his life.

Karen’s remains will be cremated and buried at Lawndale Cemetery in Old Town in a private ceremony attended by friends and family in early June. Memorial donations may be made to Cancer Care of Maine, P. O. Box 404, Bangor, ME 04402-0404. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal, Newport. For more information or to sign an on-line guestbook, please visit www.crosbyneal.com