TRIBUTE
TO KAREN LEE HUNT
In preparing and
reviewing documentation for this tribute to Karen, we realized that notes from
friends and family and acquaintances create a beautiful picture of who Karen
Lee Hunt was; how she impacted the lives of others; and why her loving legacy
will always live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved her.
We, Karen’s family,
always recognized the gentle, caring and loving nature of Karen -- her sincerity, kindness,
understanding and insight. It was
all of the little things that Karen stood for, and the little things that she
shared of herself, that left such a huge impact on so many. Each of us who knew and loved Karen is
richer for it. The light that
shined in her has become a part of us.
Her warmth, caring, and love is exemplified in her actions and in what
others said about her.
- A young man’s school-days memory of Karen – and
he wrote. “I was a little
chubby back in those days and nobody wanted to dance with me. I couldn’t believe that Karen came
over and chose me to be her square-dancing partner. She could have chosen anyone.”
- A neighborhood mother remembers that Karen would
ask to play with her little boy when no one else would play with him. Her child was handicapped with
Cerebral Palsy. The little
boy’s mother was compelled to call my wife years later to make sure we
knew about that, because she never could forget it.
- When Karen’s best friend in high school had a
serious eating disorder, Karen made the difficult choice to confront the
girl’s parents although she knew her friend was dead set against it – and
she also knew that the girl’s parents would not be easily convinced that
their daughter had a serious problem. Karen could not be at rest until she did what she felt
she needed to do to help her friend.
- During Karen’s early high school years Karen’s
mother and I received a note from one of the vice principals of the school
stating: “ Karen is truly a fine person, friendly, outgoing, and
kind. I know she will be very
successful and happy. Anyone
who has the fine character that Karen has cannot miss in life.” Later, in 1988 we received a note
from that same vice principal who stated: “I remember her like yesterday,
sitting in my office telling me about Syracuse University and her
plans. She was a beautiful,
loving person who touched the lives of everyone she met in a positive
way.”
- Karen’s college sweetheart painted a portrait of
Karen that he gave to our family.
He states in a note that accompanied the portrait: “The feeling that Karen gave
everyone will stay within us until our graves, but her beauty, as we
perceived her, will change as the years progress. For the last year, I have been
struggling to capture this beauty, but I realize now that it can never be
portrayed on canvas because just as Karen was beautiful on the outside,
her insides were far more beautiful. Karen dealt with feelings and human emotion. The feelings we have, that inner love
deep within our stomachs, supersedes far beyond an image of Karen on
paper.”
- One of Karen’s college roommates writes, “Karen
was the best. She was a
genuine person. Just an all
round good person. She gave
the best advice. She
really was honest; she took the time to help; she wanted to help; she had
to help; she cared.” The
roommate also writes, “When all was bad, I just wanted to go back to the
room and speak to Karen, and when all was great, I couldn’t wait to tell Karen. She was always there. Her opinion was always very
important to me, and to everyone else. She really made a mark on my life; she changed my
life.”
- Karen’s sister, Robyn, looked up to Karen in the
highest regard. Karen was
able to put negative or disappointing times into perspective for
Robyn. She made everything
fun. Karen was so loved; so
respected. Everything was
okay when you were in Karen’s presence. Robyn wrote in a poem: “It hurts to think I’m losing you without a reason why,
but I know deep inside that you’re what’s helped me by”. There is a song called “The Wind
Beneath My Wings”. Karen was
the wind beneath Robyn’s wings, and whenever we hear that song we remember
the strong bond our two daughters shared.
- Robyn’s friends loved Karen too. Robyn’s good friend wrote: “Karen had it all – brains, beauty
and a great amount of love and talent. I always thought of Karen as my sister. I loved her and looked up to her,
as many people did. When
Karen was living, she always lifted you up when you were down and could no
matter what the problem was.”
Her friends loved her because she cared. If someone had a problem, she would try to help. All I can say is she left a mark
on everyone’s heart that meant love.
Although Karen is not here with me, she still is in my heart and
always will be.”
- Karen’s mother in trying to describe her daughter
writes, “Words don’t seem to be adequate to describe the inner beauty that
I witnessed. I remember
thinking to myself that already in her twenty years of life I couldn’t be
more proud of her – just for being who she was and for having blossomed
into someone so beautiful and special.”
Karen’s kind of beauty
can never die and so she lives on in our hearts and in our very souls. She
remains part of every person that she ever touched. Her light is bright and continues to warm the hearts and inspire
the lives of family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. While it was much too short, we are
grateful for the 20 years that Karen spent on this Earth. We are grateful for her continued love
that we still feel today – and will for all eternity.
When Karen was about
thirteen years old there was a tragic death of one of the teenagers in our
neighborhood. The sight of
grieving friends triggered Karen to write a couple of poems that she gave to
the teenager’s friends to help them with their pain. These two poems are:
SOMEWHERE
MY FRIEND
and
LOVE LASTS
I’ll
conclude this tribute to Karen Lee Hunt with these words from one of her poems.
LOVE
LASTS
I have lost an old, dear
friend.
None of us knew she was
near the end.
It isn’t fair she died
that way;
Now it is for her I pray.
The tears come again and
roll down my face,
For the memory of her I
cannot erase.
The sorrow is deep, and
will slowly pass,
But our Love for Her will
always Last.
WE LOVE
YOU, KAREN.