Obituary of Karen Palmer Harmer
Karen P. Harmer entered into eternal rest surrounded by her family’s love on March 30, 2024 after a short illness.
Karen was born November 14, 1942 to Edward J. and Mary Kerr Palmer of Irvington, NY. After graduating from Irvington High School in 1960 she entered nursing school. Once she received her nursing degree she worked at St John’s Hospital in Yonkers, NY. On September 27, 1969 she married her husband, Richard W. Harmer. She remained married to him for 54 years.
In 1977, Karen and Richard moved into their current home in Wappingers Falls. She was a homemaker until her daughters started school. Karen held a variety of jobs including working at the children’s clothing store Young Folks, she became the head of the stitching department of the Wappingers AC Moore when it opened in 1997, and finally she worked at the Old Navy Warehouse as a part of their OPT team.
Karen enjoyed doing counted cross stitch, and word puzzles. She was an avid viewer of mystery shows as well as Hallmark movies. She was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church of Wappingers prior to its closing in 2020, she then worshiped occasionally at the Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church. After retirement in 2007 Karen enjoyed traveling to Cape Cod every summer specifically to shop at her favorite store, the Bird Watchers General Store in Orleans.
Karen is survived at home in Wappingers Falls by her husband Richard, daughters Jennifer Harmer, Jessica (Alexander) Pardee, and her beloved granddaughter Anastasia Pardee, as well as her Aunt Barbara Carrozzi of Irvington, NY and several cousins.
The family would the to thank the staff at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at River Valley for caring for Karen during her final months.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations can be given in Karen’s memory to the Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church Organ and Piano Maintenance Fund (www.pokumc.org), Evergreen Chorus of Sweet Adelines International (www.Evergreenchorus.org), or Wild Care (www.wildcarecapecod.org).
A memorial service will be held for friends and family at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street in Wappingers Falls. To send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.
