Karen Mengden

Karen Roschelle Mengden, 60, of West Orange, NJ, passed away suddenly on June 14, 2026. Karen is remembered as strong, positive, and joyful - a loving and mindful presence in the lives of everyone she met. Her greatest gift to the world was the profound love and joy that she brought to every facet of her life.

Born in Passaic, NJ on March 27, 1966, to Dr. Ira A. Roschelle and Alice Moskowitz, Karen was the middle child, alongside Amy and Jeremy. From an early age, Karen was an avid and constant reader. At Wayne Valley High School, Karen was a passionate member of the marching band. Karen graduated from Vassar College, where she studied psychology and French, including a semester abroad in Geneva. Karen then pursued her Masters and PhD in psychology at the University of Minnesota. As a gifted therapist, she built a psychologist career in the school system and in private practice, building on her inborn compassion and drive for helping people.

After completing her training, Karen moved back to New Jersey, where she began building a loving community around her. With husband, Paul Mengden, she raised a beautiful family and was a constantly present and devoted mother to Chloe, Kayla, and Bryce. She made sure to be at every band concert, sports game, and awards ceremony, always cheering her kids on. Together, she and Paul launched her children to college and graduate school, and she looked forward to talking to her children every day, sending a goodnight text every single night. She was a loving pet mom to many fish, guinea pigs, and her beloved dog, Lucy. She built her parents and extended family into every moment, instilling a dedication to family in her children.

Karen cultivated a life of many passions, friends, talents and travels, often inspiring her family and friends to join in her latest discoveries. From books to gardening, crocheting, painting, and mahjong, Karen was always adding new ways to enjoy life. Her dedication to family trips and traditions created lifelong bonds across siblings and cousins. Mattituck was her happy place, especially when full of family and laughter. Her loving energy will forever radiate in every quiet corner and bustling kitchen. She took advantage of any opportunity to bring her loved ones together, including creating lifelong memories with family trips across the world.

Karen fought every obstacle with optimism and grace and taught those around her to do the same. Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2016, she defied all the odds and refused to let her disease define her. She taught everyone the power of kindness, unending positivity, courage, intelligence, and tender care. Karen loved everyone, and everyone loved Karen.

Karen is survived by her three children Chloe, Kayla, and Bryce; her parents Alice and Paul Moskowitz, siblings Jeremy Roschelle (Audrey Garfield) and Amy Roschelle (Len Granowetter); her mother-in-law Marilyn Mengden, Karen Hershenson (Trent Hershenson), Leslie Mosier, and Karen Sue Mengden; many cousins, nieces, nephews and other loved ones. She is predeceased by her father Ira A. Roschelle, husband Paul Mengden, father-in-law Joseph David Mengden, and brother-in-law David Mengden.

The family will be receiving guests at the Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, New Jersey 07039, on June 17, 2026, from 10:15 am to 10:45 am, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am, with livestream available at https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/122974.

The burial will be private.

Donations may be made to LUNGevity Foundation or to Calvary Gospel Church Food Bank, 17 Lyons Avenue, Newark, New Jersey 07112.