I was saddened to hear of Karen's passing, It is with fondness I recall her enthusiastic good humour and generosity when she would visit me at my office.

Karen and I grew up on the same street in Guelph.  Born just three months apart, we were together like glue for the first 8 years of our lives. We remained in contact throughout these many years 

I fondly remember many vacation weeks with Karen’s Mom and Dad at Wasaga Beach. We rowed a boat up and down the river, played in the sand and spent many evenings walking into town where we selected a shell or other trinket to take home at the end of the week. 

As an only child, Karen spent a lot of time with my family as well.    Karen just fit in as daughter number five.  Together we terrorized the boys on our street (or perhaps they terrorized us) but we held our own.  

Even though miles apart, we always connected to recognize our respective birthdays. 

Karen was very inquisitive and  intelligent and faced life with strength, character and faith.  

From the Vasey clan our deepest condolences   

Marilyn

I met Karen at the Ontario Police College in 1991 while seconded. She was a frequent guest lecturer on the Senior Criminal Investigations as well in the Junior and Senior Command Management Development Courses.
Karen was an engaging speaker with an active sense of humour and a surprising wealth of policing knowledge, gained by ride-alongs  after police lectures in New York, Dallas Texas and as a Staff Instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico Virginia; the first Canadian to be so honoured with a position there.  
Karen would often call me when preparing for her next "Show" ...to try out her patter and check police terminology! 
Having it "right" mattered! 

We maintained our friendship for years afterward, often just talking by phone and playing verbal PingPong; a joy we shared, fascinated by the breadth and richness of the English language. 

Karen had a brilliant mind and a rapier wit.  I will cherish those highlights of our friendship; sadly now at an end.  Ave Atque Vale, my dear friend. Missed, yes ... but never forgotten.

I am leaving the family with a poem Karen wrote in grade 13. It was in our year book.
                        This is to remember me
                         On some winter night
                         While you watch
                         Through prisms of frozen water.

                         Tomorrow will come as gentley
                         As today will slip into darkness.

                        I reached out to touch your hand
                        But as I found it
                         It crumpled like paper
                         And lay there without your body
                        It was a grim joke.

                        Remember me with
                        Orange blossoms and
                         Red roses.

                          The sea and sky meet
                          Along the delicate line
                          To rid the depths of fury
                           Foam surges to the shore in a
                           Desperate clutch for sand                         
                           Yep slips under to fate once more.

Rest in peace my dear friend.
Marlene Congi(Matthews)

OBITUARY

Karen Louise Jakob

30 June, 1953 – 23 August, 2025

MacKinnon Family Funeral Home

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