Karen Merreece Kinsey Cornwell

CORNWELL, Karen March 12, 1949 - October 25, 2016 It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Karen Merreece Kinsey Cornwell on October 25, 2016. Cause of death was a rare liver cancer, cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Symptoms were first noted in December 2013. She handled the devastating blow with grace and dignity. Her determination, strength, and resilience were formidable, unwavering, and inspiring. She focused her efforts on living, loving, and being present for all of those she knew. She was deeply loved and assured us that we will find joy again, but we know that without her any joy will be forever bittersweet. She is survived by the love of her life and dedicated caregiver, her husband of nearly 33 years, Jerry Cornwell, of the Bay Area; beloved daughter Sully Park (Bobby) and grandson Harley of Las Vegas; step-daughter Diana Kloepping, grandson Colin Kloepping (Brooke) and great-grandson, Carter Reed of Sacramento; granddaughter Gwyndolen Kloepping and great-grandchildren Gwyndolen and Logan of Oakland; step-son Scott (Laura) and granddaughters Rachel and Jessica of Half Moon Bay. Karen was born March 12, 1949 in Walterboro, South Carolina where she graduated from Walterboro High School. She continued her education at Palmer College, Charleston, S.C. She retired in 2006 after 31 years of federal service at NASA, Cape Kennedy, FL; Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan; McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, CA; the Presidio of San Francisco; and the last 17 years at the SF Veterans Affairs Medical Center. After retiring, she and Jerry moved from San Francisco to Santa Rosa, CA. She said that they were lucky to have unknowingly moved into a neighborhood with the best neighbors ever. They loved living in Santa Rosa so much that they almost forgot to travel, although they did manage to go on a few trips. Some of her happiest times were visiting her daughter and grandson when the Parks lived at Vandenberg Air Force Base on the central coast, and later when they moved to Las Vegas. Most of all, she loved the extraordinary, yet ordinary moments of daily life, reading newspapers and books, staying informed on current events, going to movies, a little retail therapy, eating breakfast out (any excuse would do, particularly breakfast celebrations after labs/procedures that required fasting), rooting for the 49ers, Golden State Warriors and SF Giants, and most of all, talking to her daughter by phone twice a day to bridge the distance gap and keep informed about Harley. She and her friends from the Sacramento area joked that they celebrated all of their birthdays, Mothers Days, anniversaries, holidays and other milestones by shopping in SF. She loved accompanying Jerry to the Lipman Middle School, Brisbane retired teachers' brunch several times a year (yet another excuse for breakfast) and lunching with former coworkers from the VA as well as several members of the local Curves group. The family thanks the following Kaiser staff who took good care of her: Dr. Oh (Family Medicine), Dr. Zhang (Oncology), the staff of the infusion center, including the pharmacist, and the CT techs and nurse who bravely sang Happy Birthday to her two years in a row before rolling her into the scanner. We would also like to thank Memorial Hospice staff for their loving support and care. A gathering to celebrate Karen's life will be held in Santa Rosa. Please contact Jerry or Sully for further details. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Memorial Hospice, 439 College Ave., Santa Rosa, CA, 95401, in memory of Karen Cornwell. Services Entrusted to Chapel of the Chimes, Santa Rosa, CA - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressdemocrat/obituary.aspx?n=karen-cornwell&pid=182368928#sthash.5Rodtqi0.dpufArrangements under the direction of Chapel of the Chimes Funeral Home, Santa Rosa, CA.