Karen Frances Cancelmo

Karen (Abare) Cancelmo, beloved wife of Bob Cancelmo, passed away after a long and courageous struggle with Parkinson’s on Friday, February 26, 2021, with husband Bob by her side. Throughout the past many years, she handled her illness with strength, grace and a wonderful sense of humor. For her entire life she maintained the importance of the love of her horses and German Shepherds, family was most important to Karen and helping those who are in need. Her philosophy was simple. Be kind to every animal, love your family-friends and always make time to help someone. Karen grew up in Hartford, CT and attended St. Augustine’s elementary school and met her husband Bob while attending Bulkeley High School. As they both migrated through College years and beyond, she had many careers in her lifetime: Dental Assistant, Cosmetologist (obtaining a license to fund her horse hobby!), and Preschool Teacher and Director. In addition to those careers, for many years, Karen, along with her husband Bob, and many family volunteers, organized and managed the Folly Farm Annual Classic Horse Show and Crafts Fair to benefit the Fidelco Guide dog Foundation of Bloomfield, CT. This annual Benefit Show was held at the Folly Farm stables in Simsbury donating 100% of the profits to the Foundation! This was an amazing undertaking and Karen thrived doing what she loved so much and developed yet another side career fundraising, creating and preparing the ads and then the Show Program while persuading dozens of both local business owners and large corporate executives, to support the horse show with their donations! She was even able to persuade the Governor’s Office to provide an “Official Statement” of declaration about the importance of the fundraiser.

As an adolescent, Karen’s love of Horses began after being introduced to riding by an older brother. She became a gifted equestrian-showing her horses in competitions for almost three decades. Every day for many years Karen could be found at the Stables, grooming her horse, always at the ready to help her friends, and then walking with her German Shepherd, along the grounds.

She was creative, artistic and the real definition of an “avid” reader…Who reads War and Peace twice! Having read several books each month and sometimes weekly Karen leaves behind many rooms with “full” bookcases! She possessed unsurmountable energy which was evident as she made time to work and support husband Bob over many years to renovate their Avon home and 20 years later a cottage and then a home in Old Saybrook. She was the most forthright-kind person you will ever meet!

Shopping with her sisters regularly and spending quality time during the Holidays with them was another of her passions. She also was very thankful to have been able to spend time routinely with her closest friends of more than 45 years who she loved and admired; Donna Lombardo, Eileen Vitti, Judy LaPeruta, Robin Keable and Dr Susan Coggins and missed them terribly as she was declining.

Karen expressed many times to husband Bob that she could not have managed over the past many years since her diagnosis without the routine visits and sleepovers and care by her beloved sister-in-law Joanne Cancelmo Gillen of Simsbury. Also, Karen’s sister Joyce Abare Cunnane (who had a declining husband at home) helped attend to Karen when possible with many weekly visits throughout the years as well. Finally, it was most Important to Karen (and Bob as well) that her wonderful-caring team of therapist and VNA nurse be recognized and acknowledged for being the exceptional humans that they are. Before the VNA in-home care was needed, Karen was taken weekly to the Rehab Concepts, LLC therapy team in (Guilford and Old Saybrook, CT) where owner Dr Mary Jane Fegan personally attended to Karen at every visit. She always “made Karen’s day” as MaryJane was also a horse owner.

And when Karen became home bound for the past many months, the most incredibly caring-kind-hard working and beautiful team of angels from the Westbrook VNA attended to Karen each and every week, always able to lift her spirits! PT and OT expert Therapists Noreen Saunders and Michelle Serbent could not have been more loving and diligent in working with Karen with every “caring” weekly visit. Westbrook VNA head Nurse Cathy Angier came to see Karen “every day” each week to provide care and monitor her condition. The Care Nurse Cathy provided “cannot be expressed enough”, says Bob as he observed tireless - kindness, caring and attention to making Karen’s painful condition as comfortable as possible with every visit. And providing unconditional care to the end…Nurse Cathy was with Bob as Karen passed. “It does not get better than RN Cathy and the VNA Team” quotes Bob.

Karen was predeceased by her sisters, Patricia Kaminski and Barbara Karzar, and her brothers, Richard and Jackie Abare.

She is survived by her beloved husband, and her sisters, Joyce Cunnane and Mary Jane Abare. She also leaves behind loving in-laws: Celine and Paul Pedemonti, Joanne and Chris Gillen, Dr. Joseph Cancelmo and Dr. Janet Stein and 35 nieces-nephews in 6 States and the UK. Karen was always thankful of her relationships with close-by Nephew Joe Pedemonti and wife Megan, Nephew Stephan Kaminski and wife Michelle, Nephew Matthew Gillen and wife Rachel, Nephew Dr. Andrew Gillen and wife Jen, Niece Cara and Nephew Leo Cancelmo, Niece Patty Cunnane Ranson and Husband Briscoe, Nephew David Pedemonti and great Nephew Alex Kaminski. And She really enjoyed watching and “cheering on” twin great Nephews Cameron & Shaw Pedemonti along with their sister, great Niece Tess Pedemonti as the boys played scholastic baseball and basketball over many years!

Funeral services will take place privately when Covid restrictions have eased. Arrangements have been entrusted to the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT. To leave a message for the family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com

In keeping with Karen’s love and support of Animals, and those in need as she encouraged others to care and Contribute when able…She lived-by and admired the words of truth expressed by…St Francis of Assisi … “If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men”