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Karen L. McLaughlin, 58, died peacefully Monday, December 2, 2002 following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by family at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston Texas. Karen was born on March 28, 1944, in Stoneham, Massachusetts to Edward and Marguerite Muccio. On July 18, 1965 she married Thomas P. McLaughlin and they ventured forth from family and friends in the Boston area to the University of Arizona. After a summer in Los Alamos in 1967 and then two years in Germany, she returned with her husband to Los Alamos where she was at home until her death. Church and family were the most important aspects of Karen's life. While always a strong Christian, she converted to Catholicism in 1974. After having been a second grade teacher in the religious education program at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church for several years (even before she converted to Catholicism!), she became the director of the program in 1980. For 20 years she built the program side by side with building her personal family. Her love of her Church was a major influence on her family and those who knew her. After retiring from this full time position so that she could spend more time with her family and friends, she eagerly accepted the position of coordinator of bereavement activities at the Church. Karen was strong spirited and fun loving, and enjoyed entertaining and traveling, particularly to warmer climates. Overcoming significant apprehension, she persevered and became a certified scuba diver so that this particular activity would also be a family affair. She is survived by her loving and thankful husband of 37 years, Tom; daughter, Deborah and husband, William Hinckley; and granddaughter, Alexandra of Los Alamos; son, Patrick of Independence, Missouri; daughter, Jill and husband, Sami Tulonen of Brussels, Belgium; son, Heath of Carney's Point, New Jersey; son, Jared and wife, Elena; and grandson, Thomas of Albuquerque; sister, Sheila Rich and family of Melrose, Massachusetts; brother, Edward Muccio and family of Big Rapids, Michigan; and numerous nieces and nephews. True to the importance she placed on teaching and sharing, Karen had her body donated to the U. of Texas Medical School in Houston. A Memorial Mass/Celebration of her life will be held at IHM Church in Los Alamos at a date be announced when all family members can be present. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Karen's name to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 297153, Houston, TX 77297.
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