August 19, 1948 - October 6, 2024
Karen Lee Stewart, 76, passed away peacefully snuggled under a heritage quilt, at Hospice Wellington on October 6, 2024. Karen was surrounded by loving family and nurtured by the amazing, caring staff and volunteers of Hospice Wellington.
Karen grew up on a dairy farm in Norwood Ontario, daughter of Gordon and Doreen Stewart. She created treasured memories with her parents and four siblings and many community friends and neighbors throughout her Norwood years. Influenced by the international exchange students through the Junior Farmers program, Karen enjoyed a year travelling through the British Isles, learning, sight-seeing and tasting her way through the countryside. This adventure became the first of many world travels that she would eventually enjoy over her lifetime. Those rolling green fields, stone fences and herds of grazing sheep, would forever be etched in her favour.
Karen's youth also involved 4-H, summers as a counsellor at Camp Quin-Mo-Lac, Sunday school teacher, and her year as the Peterborough County Milk Ambassador. After graduating from Sir Sandford Fleming College with a diploma in social services, Karen became a front line worker with the Childrens' Aid Society in Whitby. Her passion for child welfare, and a decade with CAS, led her to further education. It was a brave move to downtown Toronto in order to earn her degree at York University. From there she attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier for her masters degree in Social Work.
In 1984, Karen returned to Peterborough to work at the psychiatric department at Civic Hospital, helping others and making a difference. As her career evolved, the smart people at Sheridan College invited Karen to join their staff in 1986. At Sheridan, she was able to teach, lead and influence students and other faculty for 25 years in the social work program. Her career was centred by her ideals and passion to continually advocate for social justice in the world.
Karen's life was elevated to an entirely new plane of happiness when she met and fell in love with Doug Ing. Together, they travelled, dined and argued about the policies and protocols of sharing desserts. Doug's amazing daughter Jessica, son Chris and their families, added tremendous layers of joy and fulfillment to Karen's life. Karen and Doug moved to Rockwood in 2011 and completed their domesticity by adopting Griffin, their rescue dog. As it turned out, Griffin rescued Karen every bit as much as they rescued him. As life would have it, Doug passed in 2013, leaving Karen and Griffin, and their supportive Rockwood community to carry on. Once again, Karen found purpose and meaning, working with the East Wellington Community Services, and volunteering with Hospice Wellington.
Karen is predeceased by her partner Doug Ing (2013), parents Gordon (2016) and Doreen (2018), and her younger brother Ron (2020).She is survived and will be missed by brother Scott (Madeline), sister-in-law Heather (Ron), sister Lori (Peter Loucks), sister Michelle (Michael Clow), Jessica Ing (Jesse Baer-Hennnig), and Chris Ing (Brittany Heath). As well, her loving niece, nephews, great niece and great nephews.
A celebration to honour Karen's blessed life, will be held on Sunday December 1, 2024 at the Springfield Golf and Country Club, 2054 Gordon Street Guelph. Presentations and long Stewart good-byes will commence at 1:00 pm.
Karen loved and served her community. In lieu of flowers, we request donations, in her honour, be made to:
Hospice Wellington, Guelph Ontario or
East Wellington Community Services, Erin Ontario
Care for the family provided by Passages Cremation and Burial