Obituary for Karen Beth Blawie (Happell)
Karen Blawie (nee Happell), of Bridgewater, CT, formerly of Newtown, died on April 5, 2023 at the age of 66 after a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. Karen was born in Lynchburg, VA during a snowstorm on January 16, 1957 to the late John Happell and M. Karoline (Kay) Happell Albee.
Karen was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School, Lynchburg, VA, and received her BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia in 1979. She earned an MBA from the University of Hartford in 1983. In 1980 she married the Hon. John F. Blawie, Superior Court judge (divorced 2011). She was the proud mother of three: John Jr. “Jack” Blawie, Fr. Brendan Blawie, and Marian Blawie Brown (Aaron). On 11/11/11, Karen married her migliore amico Gary Crisci, partner at Newtown Car Care, happily becoming a stepmother to Tyler and Jessica Crisci, and later a stepgrandmother to August Crisci.
Her career included Special Function Coordinator at the Boar’s Head Inn, Charlottesville, VA; Assistant Director of Graduate Studies at the Barney School of Business, University of Hartford; and Director of Development for the US Board of Trustees of Athens College, Greece. In that capacity, Karen organized a decade’s worth of black-tie Athenian Balls in Manhattan, which raised hundreds of thousands for Athens College.
Karen was elected to three terms on the Newtown Legislative Council and was an active member of the Newtown Republican Town Committee for many years. She retired from public service in 1999 to devote more time to her family. In an article marking the occasion, The Newtown Bee noted that Karen was known as “the conscience of the council… leaving behind a legacy of leadership, courage and an abundance of laughs. As one fellow council member pointed out, they just don’t make them like Karen Blawie anymore…. Her conservative, common sense approach made her invaluable, and her ability to face the town’s toughest issues head-on made her a leader among leaders. Honest and sincere in her convictions, she had the respect of even those who disagreed with her. Council members agreed that you always knew where you stood with Karen Blawie.”
Karen was a founding member of the ladies’ social group known as “The Guild.” She was a long-time parishioner of Saint Rose of Lima Church. For over 30 years, Karen lived on Walnut Tree Hill in Sandy Hook. She named the Blawie family homestead “Eagle Aerie” after both of her sons earned the rank of Eagle Scout. She loved to entertain friends and family with pool parties and celebrating festive holidays.
Her children say they have never known anyone with as many friends as their mother. Of great importance to Karen were manners and civility, and she felt it was her greatest blessing to be able to stay at home to raise her children, the joys of her life. Karen is remembered for her quick wit and humor, concern and love for others, love of words, phrases and writing, a generous spirit, thank you notes, pearls of wisdom, many tears, and a life well-lived. She enjoyed and had a penchant for organization, interior design, floral arrangements, retail sales, and auctions. Her mantra was, “Get up early and dress for a party.” And she did.
Karen would hope most of all to be remembered for her love of Jesus Christ, faith in the Lord, and her Christian ideals and example. She was often known to say, “God has a plan and His plan is perfect.”
In addition to her children and stepchildren, Karen is survived by her husband Gary, mother Kay, brother Eric Happell (Constance), nephews Alexander and Brian Happell, sisters in law Maribeth Blawie Seraj, Carol Blawie Krause (Peter), Barbara Blawie Storvick (John), Marian Blawie Healy (Michael), Karen Crisci Koschel DiTullio (Richard), nephew John Koschel IV (Amanda), big sister Marcine Crowhurst, and her best buddy doxie, “Major Wagner.”
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Pontifical North American College (Rome, Italy) 3211 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20017; St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, CT 06470; or the New Milford Animal Welfare Society, 8 Dodd Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Calling hours will be on Monday, April 10 from 4-8 PM at Honan Funeral Home, Newtown, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 11 at 10:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown, CT. Interment to follow at Newtown Village Cemetery.
Karen was a graduate of E.C. Glass High School, Lynchburg, VA, and received her BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia in 1979. She earned an MBA from the University of Hartford in 1983. In 1980 she married the Hon. John F. Blawie, Superior Court judge (divorced 2011). She was the proud mother of three: John Jr. “Jack” Blawie, Fr. Brendan Blawie, and Marian Blawie Brown (Aaron). On 11/11/11, Karen married her migliore amico Gary Crisci, partner at Newtown Car Care, happily becoming a stepmother to Tyler and Jessica Crisci, and later a stepgrandmother to August Crisci.
Her career included Special Function Coordinator at the Boar’s Head Inn, Charlottesville, VA; Assistant Director of Graduate Studies at the Barney School of Business, University of Hartford; and Director of Development for the US Board of Trustees of Athens College, Greece. In that capacity, Karen organized a decade’s worth of black-tie Athenian Balls in Manhattan, which raised hundreds of thousands for Athens College.
Karen was elected to three terms on the Newtown Legislative Council and was an active member of the Newtown Republican Town Committee for many years. She retired from public service in 1999 to devote more time to her family. In an article marking the occasion, The Newtown Bee noted that Karen was known as “the conscience of the council… leaving behind a legacy of leadership, courage and an abundance of laughs. As one fellow council member pointed out, they just don’t make them like Karen Blawie anymore…. Her conservative, common sense approach made her invaluable, and her ability to face the town’s toughest issues head-on made her a leader among leaders. Honest and sincere in her convictions, she had the respect of even those who disagreed with her. Council members agreed that you always knew where you stood with Karen Blawie.”
Karen was a founding member of the ladies’ social group known as “The Guild.” She was a long-time parishioner of Saint Rose of Lima Church. For over 30 years, Karen lived on Walnut Tree Hill in Sandy Hook. She named the Blawie family homestead “Eagle Aerie” after both of her sons earned the rank of Eagle Scout. She loved to entertain friends and family with pool parties and celebrating festive holidays.
Her children say they have never known anyone with as many friends as their mother. Of great importance to Karen were manners and civility, and she felt it was her greatest blessing to be able to stay at home to raise her children, the joys of her life. Karen is remembered for her quick wit and humor, concern and love for others, love of words, phrases and writing, a generous spirit, thank you notes, pearls of wisdom, many tears, and a life well-lived. She enjoyed and had a penchant for organization, interior design, floral arrangements, retail sales, and auctions. Her mantra was, “Get up early and dress for a party.” And she did.
Karen would hope most of all to be remembered for her love of Jesus Christ, faith in the Lord, and her Christian ideals and example. She was often known to say, “God has a plan and His plan is perfect.”
In addition to her children and stepchildren, Karen is survived by her husband Gary, mother Kay, brother Eric Happell (Constance), nephews Alexander and Brian Happell, sisters in law Maribeth Blawie Seraj, Carol Blawie Krause (Peter), Barbara Blawie Storvick (John), Marian Blawie Healy (Michael), Karen Crisci Koschel DiTullio (Richard), nephew John Koschel IV (Amanda), big sister Marcine Crowhurst, and her best buddy doxie, “Major Wagner.”
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Pontifical North American College (Rome, Italy) 3211 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20017; St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, CT 06470; or the New Milford Animal Welfare Society, 8 Dodd Road, New Milford, CT 06776.
Calling hours will be on Monday, April 10 from 4-8 PM at Honan Funeral Home, Newtown, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 11 at 10:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown, CT. Interment to follow at Newtown Village Cemetery.