Karen M. O'Leary

Karen M. O’Leary passed away May 24, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. Karen was born in Japan on March 10, 1955. Karen’s father, Frank E. Kluczynski, was stationed in Japan during the Korean War where he fell in love and married Emiko Hirata. Karen grew up in a boisterous household surrounded by her close siblings: Anna (Randy) Neubauer, Paul (Jennifer) Kluczynski, Suzanne (Bill Vas) Born, and Gary (Renee) Kluczynski. Karen loved to read, whether it was comic books or classics, you would find her curled up on a couch with a book in her hand and one of her numerous cats sleeping in her lap. She had the soul of a gourmet chef. She loved to surprise her children Brittany (Kevin) Welch and Erin (Alyssa Cain) O’Leary with a Sunday dinner. Karen couldn’t spend enough time with her grandchildren, who she adored: Sienna, Cora, and Brady Welch. Her family was the love of her life. Karen had a sense of adventure. In her youth, she flew across the country and earned a private pilot license. Karen loved to travel with her husband of 41 years. Terry and Karen scuba-dived in the Caribbean, kissed on the Eiffel Tower, and sat on a beach in Guadalupe and held hands as the sun set. Karen had numerous jobs in her life. She especially enjoyed her time at the Toledo Botanical Gardens where she became a Master Gardener. Karen was a fierce defender of her friends. She would never tolerate any form of racism or discrimination. She tried to see the good in all people. Her life ended way too soon. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. A celebration of Karen’s life will be held in the Conference Center of the Toledo Botanical Gardens on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 from 2-4 pm.