Karen L. McDonald

Karen McDonald moved peacefully into the open arms of her Lord and Savior on December 6, 2024. Karen enjoyed 62 years as the beloved wife of her high school sweetheart James P. McDonald, who spent as much time together as they could and referred to themselves as “Team McDonald”. In addition, treasured her family: daughter Pamela Rochlin, son-in-law Martin and granddaughter Lilly; son Glen McDonald and daughter-in-law Danielle, granddaughter Natalie McDonald and grandson Nicholas McDonald; granddaughters Amanda Stephenson and Lindsey McDonald and their mother Tracey McDonald-Sands. Karen is predeceased by her son Bruce McDonald. 

Karen was grateful to have been raised in a loving family in East Paterson, NJ by her parents Lewis and Mable Nanfeldt. Karen’s sister Suellen and brother-in law Norman Reimer live in Neptune Beach, FL.  Karen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Primary Education in 1962 from Paterson State University in Paterson, NJ and taught 4 years in NJ before moving to MD with her husband after he graduated from college. Shortly after moving to MD, Karen paused her teaching career to raise her three children while also enjoying a career as an executive administrator at IT small businesses and a legal office in Howard County, MD and, for a short while a banking software company in Orlando, FL. Upon returning to MD from FL, Karen returned to the Elementary school classroom and taught full-time for 12 years before retiring from the Howard County School System in 2004.

After retiring, Karen and her husband moved to Lewes, DE for 12 years, during which she fulfilled her desire to continue teaching by becoming a teacher in the English as a Second Language program and Vacation Bible School at her church, the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Rehoboth Beach, DE. In addition, she applied her previous executive administrator experience by becoming the Secretary of the Community Resource Center, helping individuals and families in need get to the next step of their journey towards self-sufficiency and stability.

Another great area of fulfillment for Karen was to observe anything happening in God’s creation, from birds and/or squirrels figuring out how to get more bird seed than any of the others, to deer and red foxes appearing in her yard, beautiful butterflies, birds and flowers in her garden, and observing breath-taking sunrises and sunsets.

Throughout her life, Karen’s was well-loved and cherished by all her family members, and especially by her grandchildren who called her “Mom Mom”, “Grandma Teddy” and “Grandma Karzy” as she hosted tea parties, played games, read books and taught them about God’s creation.

Since childhood, Karen was always a faithful church attendee, earning a perfect Sunday School attendance award when she was in elementary school. She and her husband Jim currently attend the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ellicott City, MD where she was, until health issues intervened, a member of the Martha Circle of women members and a member of two Bible studies. 

A Celebration of Life Service in Karen’s name will be held at 11am on Saturday, December 21 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church (3604 Chatham Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042, (410) 465-2977). Guests may arrive at 10am to visit with Karen’s family members. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church (https://firstlutheranec.org) Memorial Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org) in your local area.