Karen Lee (Thompson) Kellington age 83 passed away peacefully at home on August 28th surrounded by friends and family as one of her favorite songs played “What a Wonderful World”

Karen was born December 3, 1942, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to George and Vivian Thompson. She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Minneapolis South High School with the Class of 1960, forming friendships there that would remain part of her life for decades to come.

Karen was just 14 years old when she met the love of her life, Patrick William Kellington, who was 17. They married on May 20, 1961, beginning a love story that would span more than half a century, until Pat’s passing on November 7, 2012. Through all those years of marriage, raising a family, becoming grandparents and building a lifetime of memories together, Karen affectionately continued to refer to Pat simply as her “boyfriend”—a small phrase that perfectly captured a love that never seemed to grow old.

One special place woven through their story was Enger Park in Duluth, where Karen and Pat spent their honeymoon as young newlyweds. Many years later, Karen returned to that same beautiful place to officiate her grandson’s wedding—a treasured full-circle moment connecting one generation’s love story to the next.

Family was always at the heart of Karen’s life. When her daughters, Ann and MaryKay, were growing up, Karen and Pat made family vacations an annual tradition, packing up the family and traveling wherever that year’s ABC Bowling Tournament happened to take them. The tournament may have chosen the destination, but the memories were made simply by being together.

Over the years, Karen and Pat enjoyed second homes in both Las Vegas and Duluth and eventually retired to Farmington, Minnesota. Karen also had a long career with Valspar Corporation, where, unsurprisingly, coworkers became lifelong friends.

Karen had an extraordinary gift for friendship. Throughout every chapter of her life, she gathered people around her—and, more importantly, she kept them close. Her wonderfully large circle included lifelong friends from South High, her Valspar years, Book Club and her beloved Card Club, a group of girlfriends who shared friendship, laughter and countless hands of cards for more than 52 years.

Karen didn’t simply make acquaintances; she invested in people. She remembered their birthdays, anniversaries, children, grandchildren, celebrations and milestones. She stayed connected. She showed up. She sent a card. She remembered.

And if Karen remembered something, there was a very good chance it was written on her calendar.

Her calendars were legendary within the family. Important dates and events in the lives of those she loved were carefully documented and then faithfully transferred to a fresh calendar each year. It was one of the many small ways Karen demonstrated something much larger: what mattered to the people she loved mattered to her.

Then there were the famous “Karen’s Kards.” Karen was well known for creating and sending her homemade cards. Receiving one meant receiving a little piece of Karen herself—made with thought, sent with love and usually arriving just when it was supposed to.

Long before everyone carried a camera in their pocket, Karen was also the family’s first official photographer. She documented birthdays, holidays, vacations, weddings and everyday family moments, leaving generations of her family with photographs that have now become priceless pieces of their history.

Karen loved to bake and cook, especially when there were people around to enjoy what she made. She was a devout Catholic whose faith remained an important part of her life. A two-time breast cancer survivor, Karen also gave of herself as a volunteer with Cancer Mount, offering her time and compassion to others facing cancer.

Of all the roles Karen held throughout her 83 years—wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend, coworker, card maker, photographer and keeper of everyone’s important dates—the one she treasured most was simply being surrounded by the people she loved.

Karen is survived by her daughters, Ann Kellington and MaryKay (Drake) Ritchie; her grandchildren, Stephanie Gruttadauria, Patrick (Alex) Gruttadauria, Matthew (Sally) Gruttadauria, Gage (Sarah) Ritchie, and McCoy (Taylor) Ritchie; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Giovanni Gruttadauria, Quinton Gruttadauria, Madison Gruttadauria, Georgia Ritchie and Ruby Ritchie, with baby boy Max Gruttadauria and baby Ritchie soon to join the family she loved so dearly. Karen is also survived by many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, and extended family members, all of whom held a special place in her heart.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband—and forever “boyfriend”—Patrick William Kellington; her parents, George and Vivian Thompson; and her sisters, Bonnie and Patsy.

Karen leaves behind far more than a list of names and accomplishments. She leaves behind friendships that crossed generations and lasted more than 60 years. She leaves homemade cards tucked away in drawers, photographs filling albums and boxes, recipes that will continue to be made, and calendars filled with the dates that told her when to celebrate the people she loved.

Most of all, she leaves behind a family who always knew how important they were to her.

A funeral will be held on September 10th at St. Michael’s Catholic Church (22120 Denmark Ave, Farmington, MN 55024.) Visitation will start at 10am with funeral service and mass at 11am with lunch to follow.

Flowers may be sent to St. Michels Catholic Church in Farmington, MN for the services.