October 28, 1942 January 5, 2008. Karen passed away peacefully on January 5, 2008 at Vancouver General Hospital. She was predeceased by her mother Phyllis Bailey and her father John Cameron Bailey. She is survived by her brother Bill Bailey of Prince George; her nieces Allyson Lindemann (Bill) and Phylisa Huchcroft, several grand nieces, and many friends. Born in Vancouver, Karen spent her early life in Melville, Saskatchewan. She completed high school in Vancouver, graduated from Simon Fraser University, and later completed her library science training at UBC. Karen will be remembered as an amazing classroom teacher and teacher-librarian who spent years successfully teaching children at several East Side Vancouver schools. Karen was a very active and outspoken member of the Vancouver Elementary School Teachers' Association representing the interests of her students and colleagues. After her retirement in 1999, Karen continued to be involved with children with special needs. She celebrated their abilities and tried to help them with their disabilities. All of her life, Karen was very protective of those she loved and cared for. She cared very much about her family, especially her brother, his children and grandchildren, and was proactive and passionate in her defense of her students and others in her care. She could be very blunt with one person and then choose her words very carefully to avoid hurting another person the next minute. An avid reader who enjoyed going to plays, movies, ballets, opera, antique and art shows, Karen also enjoyed gardening, shopping, travel, and having lunch with friends. In addition pets played a very important part in her life. Karen's love for her dog Amos and her cats was unconditional and they were devoted and loyal to her until the very end. Karen battled breast cancer courageously for years and had great respect for the doctors, nurses and health care workers who treated her. Many thanks to Doctors Chia and Majeed; and also to Debbie Jepson and Franziska Harder at the BCCA, for their care and sympathy. Karen will be missed tremendously by her family, friends, former students and their parents, but she will always be remembered for the impact she made on them.
No funeral or memorial service will be held at her request. Donations may be made in Karen's memory to the BC Cancer Agency or to the SPCA.
