GUILFORD – Karen L. Pope, 48, of Guilford, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at her home.
The daughter of Paul and Rosie Hollenbeck Potter, Karen was born in Norwich in February of 1961. Following her graduation from the Norwich High School, she attended SUNY Morrisville in the Norwich branch campus. Karen was a hard worker who was employed for a time by Norwich Togs, Taylor’s Country House, and the emergency room at the Chenango Memorial Hospital. A talented and avid pool player who had been captain of two pool teams, she also enjoyed bowling and watching WWE wrestling and old game shows on the television. Karen was a past president of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, enjoyed flower gardening and camping, and so enjoyed mowing her lawn that the size of the lawn expanded with each mowing until it comprised two acres. She was the first person to sacrifice her own needs to benefit others, and had a great love of cats, dogs, and all animals.
Karen is survived by her son. Jay Pope and his wife Janet of Norwich; her grandmother, Rosie Camp of Gilbertsville; and her long-time companion, Tim Freer of Guilford. Also surviving are her sisters and brothers and their spouses: Rose and Butch Hubbard of Oneonta, Vickie and Roger Dionne of Whitensville, Mass., Grace Gray and companion Bob Foster of Ithaca, Theresa Boland of Weedport, Paul and Terri Potter of Sherburne, Dwight Potter of Pennsylvania, and John Richards Jr., of Norwich. Her grandchildren, Catelyn Marie and Karley Ann Pope also survive, as do nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and Tim’s children: Jake and Jen Freer and son Kaleb of Guilford and Julie Johnson and sons Sammy and Izzy of Bainbridge.
Funeral services for Karen will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Jeff Hale, pastor of the Broad St. United Methodist Church, will officiate. Interment will be in the North Norwich Cemetery. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m.