Karmen Elizabeth Pipes

With great sadness, the family of Karmen Pipes regret to announce her passing on May 14, 2019 in Halifax, NS at the age of 31. Born on April 30, 1988 in Vancouver, BC, Karmen was the beloved daughter of Terry and Terri Pipes and sister of Jodie and Chelsey Pipes. She will be forever remembered by Grandparents John and Shirley Coates of Moncton, Grandmother Marilyn Paull of Port Moody BC, niece Mackenzie Brooks of Bedford NS, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandpa, Ron Paull, who loved and worried about her so much. The last 16 years with Karmen were a gift thanks to a lifesaving heart transplant on April 1, 2003 and a second one on June 11, 2014. She defied the odds battling cancer as a teenager and, throughout the years, many operations and countless medical procedures. She fought battles every day that the rest of us could not even possibly imagine. She met each day with an unmatched determination to live her life on her terms. She was strong, determined, stubborn, compassionate, funny, creative, private, fiercely independent, incredibly loving and deeply loved. Karmen grew up in Hammonds Plains NS and graduated from CPA High School in 2006. She fulfilled her dream to be a nurse when she graduated from St FX in 2012 as an RN. She was devoted to the Pediatric Oncology, Nephrology and Hematology unit of the IWK where she worked alongside many nurses, now her closest friends, who once cared for her years before. Karmen loved her family, her friends, her fur kids, Doug, Lou and Rupi, the beach, hot sunny days, decorating, fashion and being as active as possible. We all loved her so and will miss her fiercely. We are so grateful to have had this remarkable spirit in our lives. In Karmen’s own words, “I live with intention and I am grateful for rainy days, dognaps and good coffee. I have learned to be happy with simplicity and that it is okay to live a calm, quiet life.” At Karmen’s request, there will be no visitation or service. A Celebration of Life will be held this summer, a date and time TBA, when the sun is shining and the air is warm. We wish to extend our gratitude to all of her doctors and to the amazing medical staff on 5.1 and 6.4 of the QEII for the exceptional care provided to Karmen. Thank you for the kindness, compassion and support shown to her and to all of us during her final hospital stay. A very special thank you goes to Kate Storm, nurse extraordinaire, whose love and friendship meant the world to Karmen and to us. And finally, to Karmen’s friends and family, who visited her when it was possible, helped with Karmen’s pets and provided support to us all, we are very grateful. If people wish, donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Light the Night (Halifax) in Karmen’s memory. despite knowing they won’t be here long they still choose to live their brightest lives -rupi kaur