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KAREN MALLORY (BRECHNER)
Born: Jun 18, 1938
Date of Passing: Aug 10, 2020
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or Memory
KAREN MALLORY
(née BRECHNER)
Karen was born on June 18, 1938 in Denver, Colorado to Lois Elizabeth (née Cloud) and Darwin Lester (DL) Brechner, the eldest of three siblings. During her school years she was active in many choirs and played clarinet in high school. She attended Washington State College where she was active in the university concert and touring choirs. It was at WSC that she met and married Oscar Lowell Mallory (September 9, 1960). Karen moved to Lincoln, Nebraska in 1963 and then to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1969, joining church and community choirs in both places. Karen presided over a home where the door was always open and where family, friends and acquaintances came to be fed and succored in her active kitchen. She was an enthusiastic supporter in her kids' classrooms and she never missed a school concert, play, or recital. She began working at Children's House Montessori School in the 1970s. It was here that her affinity for teaching and mentoring blossomed into a lifelong career. She ultimately became the director of Cairns Children's Centre until her retirement. She touched the lives of hundreds of people during her career and was always thrilled to hear from a former student or employee. Karen's retirement freed her to fully embrace her love of being involved. She assisted in school classrooms, at Hospice and Palliative Care fundraisers, Royal Canadian College of Organists concerts, Girl Guides activities, St. George's Church, the NDP and provided bookkeeping for several community choirs. She joined as many choirs as she could find including St. George's Anglican Church choir, University of Manitoba choir, SummerChör, Joie de Vivre, St. David's Singers, Al Antiqua, ReSound, and the Westworth United Church Handbell choir. She loved Christmas for the songs and wasn't much of a fan of Lent for the same reason. She sang while she cooked and taught her children to sing rounds and part songs on long car rides.
Karen was an inquisitive soul who kept dictionaries and encyclopedias in the dining room for easy reference, and myriads of books on every shelf in her house. She was a seamstress and pattern maker who created and constructed wedding gowns, and bridesmaid and flower girl dresses from scratch. She loved to create menus and cook them, garden, paint, create stained glass, make paper, feed the birds, do crosswords, write letters, collect small boxes and art that "spoke to her", do things and go places with her grandkids, photograph nature, travel, camp in her teepee and surround herself with people she could feed.
She leaves, to sing for her life and to mourn her passing, her children, Tana Rei, Shaun Adam (Shauna), Jay Darian and Tia Sian (Gary); her grandchildren, Leigh, Taelan, Bourke, Annemiek, Robyn, Myren, Kai and Thomas; her siblings, Lynne (David) and Kevin as well as nieces, nephew and countless friends.
A celebration of Karen's life will be live-streamed at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2020. A link to the service can be found at http://www.stgeorges.mb.ca/. An in-person requiem service is planned for next year, August 10, 2021 at St. George's Crescentwood Anglican Church.
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear the music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
- Robert Lowry
Condolences may be sent towww.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 15, 2020
Condolences & Memories (10 entries)
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Karen was a vibrant centrifugal force of love in Riverview and, without a doubt, a huge influence on my thinking, my interests, my values. Her creativity, her wit and her unparalleled easy-going hospitality and thoughtfulness were abounding. I will always remember her chirpy laughter and her sweet alto singing Christmas carols. I know that her spirit lives on in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. - Posted by: Raymond J Sokalski (friend) on: Aug 23, 2020
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Dear Shaun and Shauna, I wanted to send my condolences on Karen's passing . She was so much a part of Helen's and our own lives in Winnipeg and had so much presence as a wise elder . I am so sorry that I could not participate in the online memorial and will participate in the musical celebration you plan. Much love, Joseph Kaufert - Posted by: joseph M. Kaufert (friend) on: Aug 20, 2020
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I was very sorry to hear about Karen's passing. It has been some time since I last saw Karen, yet her creativity and the generous way about her is still very familiar in my mind. She was very warm and made an impact upon those around her! - Posted by: Derek Routledge (Friend) on: Aug 20, 2020
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My deepest condolences to you and your family. I know that Karen's memory will live on forever. Hugs Jelayne - Posted by: Jelayne Underwood (Cousin to Jay Mallory) on: Aug 16, 2020
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My condolences to the family. Shaun, your mom was an amazing person. Karen made working at Cairn's so much fun. I loved working with her. She had such great advice and helped me feel confident in the job I did. I enjoyed coming over to your home because your mom always made me feel welcome. Her cooking was pretty amazing too. I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I know how hard it is to lose a mother. Hold your memories close. Love to you all, Nancy - Posted by: Nancy Legge Hester (friend) on: Aug 15, 2020
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She was one of the kindest persons I have ever met. My deepest sympathies. - Posted by: Jim Clarkson (friend - St Matthew's Choir) on: Aug 15, 2020
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To Tia and the rest of Karen's family, I offer my condolences. Although it was many years ago, I have never forgotten the years we worked in the same building and shared many conversations. - Posted by: Ken (work, CCC) on: Aug 15, 2020
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I had a chance to read about Karen's husband as well. They both seem like they were amazing people. I have known Shaun since he married Shauna and he is a reflection of his wonderful parents. I am sure they were both proud of the person he became and I have seen first hand how he lives what his parents were. My thoughts are with Shaun, Shauna, Annemiek and Robyn. - Posted by: Ianthe Warner (Friend of the Family) on: Aug 15, 2020
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I have very much missed seeing Karen at choir. She was a lovely lady with a wicked, sharp sense of humour. It is good to know that the angels have a new choir-mother to keep them in line. “All things shall perish from under the sky. Music alone shall live, never to die.” Keep singing, ma’am. Lesley Senior - Posted by: Lesley Senior (Friend from St. George’s) on: Aug 15, 2020
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Shaun and Shauna and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you. - Posted by: Jane Hill (Cousin) on: Aug 15, 2020
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