Karen E. Smith

Karen E. Smith (née Rudolph), loving wife and mother, died January 12, 2025 at her home in Broadway, North Carolina, after a brief but valiant fight against cancer. 

Karen was born on the 24th of October, 1949, and lived her early life in Paterson, New Jersey, with her mother and 4 siblings. She was a graduate of John F. Kennedy high school, and never missed a reunion, maintaining those friendships for more than 50 years. She worked as a bookkeeper, proofreader, and later an office manager in retirement planning. She also volunteered her time at the elementary school her children attended as a library assistant, assistant crossing guard, and bus monitor. She retired to North Carolina in 2018.

Karen is survived by her husband, Robert J. Smith, and her 2 children, Zachary R. Smith and Kirstin E. Smith. She is also survived by her sister, Patricia Daly, and many, many nieces and nephews. 

Karen was an avid and voracious reader, devouring dozens of books every year, not to mention her numerous magazine subscriptions. She adored a good mystery, as well as thrillers, horror, and historical fiction. She even helped to start a local book club in her retirement.

She was a passionate animal lover, and had many deeply loved dogs, cats, birds, and rats throughout her life. She also loved wild birds, and always had a well-stocked bird feeder. She loved to sit in her back yard, watching the birds and listening to her collection of wind chimes, with a book in hand. She loved owls in particular, and had a huge collection of owl-themed items. Her yard in New Jersey also displayed her enjoyment of gardening. Whether flowers or vegetables or her many houseplants, she took pride in her green thumb. 

Karen was a talented seamstress, often making her own clothes, and always had a needlepoint project in the works. She enjoyed arts and crafts in general, and was always happy to draw, paint,  and color, and never shied away from getting her hands dirty with an art project. This definitely included many surprisingly detailed last minute Halloween costumes. 

She loved to sing, and could often be heard singing along to her favorite music around the house. Her love of music and singing encouraged the same love in her children. Throughout her life she was a member of multiple choirs, both in New Jersey and North Carolina. 

One of her greatest passions though, was cooking for her friends and family. Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday, as she was able to show her love by making sure everyone was happy and well-fed. She was also known for her famous chili, an old family recipe that she had perfected. 

More than anything else, Karen fiercely loved her family. She always stood by her husband, and her children were her pride and joy. She will be desperately missed by all. 

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM Friday, January 17, 2025 at O'Quinn-Peebles-Phillips Funeral Home in Lillington.

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