Karen Anne Rutherford, age 66 of Rochester Hills, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 6, 2021, following a courageous battle with brain cancer. Karen is survived by Tom Rutherford, her loving husband of over 41 years, her mother Ethel Green, sister Christine Green, brothers Kevin Green, Terrence (Diana) Green and Richard (Lisa Eyres) Green, Nieces Lisa (Brock) Whitaker, Samantha Green (Matt Miiller), Nephews Todd Lavander, Eric Green and Nathan Green, Grand Nieces Alexandria, Kennedi, Addison, Reagan, Eleanor, Margaret, Vivian, and Grand Nephew Axl.
Karen was born on April 25, 1954 in Lorain, Ohio. Her family moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois, where Karen graduated from John Hersey High School in 1972. Karen went on to nursing school graduating with honors from Willian Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois in 1976 and later graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Michigan. For the first 10 years of her career, Karen was a nurse at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, Michigan and then worked for 10 years in Public Relations and Marketing for Balian Eye Center and Crittenton Hospital. For the last 20 years Karen has been very active in local charities, first as a Founding Member and past President of the Women’s Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, and then as a very active member of Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan.
Karen delighted in spending time with friends and family and we will miss her infectious smile, her generosity and her wonderful attitude towards life.
A memorial gathering will be held on Sunday, August 1, 2021 from 9-11 AM, with a memorial service beginning at 11 AM, at Pixley Funeral Home in Rochester, Michigan. Memorial contributions to Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan can be made at www.semich.AssitanceLeague.org, or a charity of your choice.