Karen Margaret Bonnell

Wife of Robert (Robbie) whom she shared 41 wonderful years of marriage, 44 if he had been smart enough to “scoop” the love of his life the same day he met her in their Seneca College Stats Class. Karen said that she knew he was the one for her the moment he walked into the class, despite never having met, spoken to each other, she just knew. It was only a few days later that Karen jokingly tickled Robbie that he knew the same, that she was the one for him.

Beloved sister of John Erik Lie. Karen, who was born in Toronto, is now reunited with her father Erling Karl Lie (2006) and mother Kaija (Talpiainen) Lie (2013) who came to Canada from Norway and Finland in 1953 to start a new life and family. Karen will be missed by her sister-in-law of Joan (Ted) and her brother-in-law Grant (Dawn 2021). She also leaves behind her besties Amanda (Alana) & Eila & Aili & Gordie (Diane+Katie+Allie), Connie ( Ian+Chris) & Isabel (Bob+Steve), & Laura (André) & Donna and her nephew and nieces and their families.

Karen will be deeply missed by her many friends from her childhood and amazing co-workers who had the remarkable pleasure to have shared their lives with her while she rose from bench technician to QC Manager, working for a pharmaceutical company in Scarborough, then later relocated to Aurora where she took on the role of compiling the necessary drug submission application paperwork for the Health Protection Branch Canada.

Karen will be remembered for her bright smile, inviting personality, her generosity, and her incredible compassion for 4-legged animals and the 2-legged variety as well. She taught Robbie how to be compassionate, and he taught her what true, honest, deeply devoted love really feels like. She told so many stories of her days in Sudbury and when she lived on Melchior Drive in Scarborough as a child. Before her eyesight began to fail, her favorite time of the year was Christmas and she would begin to make personalized hand-crafted gifts for those she worked with, family and friends she would spend time with over the holidays. Not a spot was missed inside when it came to decorating the house for Christmas, and with the light display outside courtesy of poor frost-bitten Robbie, their home was a sight to behold.

Karen fell in love with camping and spent many a weekend roughing it with the mosquitoes and the gourmet steak and baked potato with sour cream and onions on the mini Bar-B-Que that Robbie would whip up for dinner. If Karen was not camping, it was not uncommon for her and Robbie to hop in the car and drive miles to be with friends who were like family to her, or to Stratford for the best chippy truck chips in Southern Ontario. Later on, as her health began to fail and winters were not as much fun, Karen and Robbie had the pleasure of hanging out in Clearwater, Florida to spend a few months basking in the sun until their return late spring. Exercise was 3-4 time a week “biking” at the YMCA which kept her in shape to pull the handle on her favorite Tampa Hardrock casino slot machines every Monday. In between all the trips here and there, Karen enjoyed her movies, be they new or old, colour or B/W, but we all know her favorites were definitely the ones with Boggie and Betty Davis.

She will be missed by all who knew her, but her memories will live on.

As per Karen’s request, there will be no funeral. Cremation has taken place. Online condolences can be made at www.markeydermody.com.