Karen Kittle

It’s no surprise to those of us who know Karen that she took last year’s change of season as a call to depart. After all, she had made it clear that she wasn’t interested in another cold NH winter. So, at 8:45am on Thursday the 3rd of September, after many complications from bladder cancer, she peacefully drew her last breath and took her exit, on her terms, without pain, at her home, near her glorious garden and, most importantly to her, with her children. Moments after she died, we looked out the window to see a fluffy red fox bound along the rock wall below her bird feeders and make its way into the woods.

Karen was born on May 16th, 1948 in Olean, NY to Wilma and James Kuhn. She attended high school at Archbishop Walsh, then majored in Philosophy and French at The College of Mount Saint Vincent. During her college years, she studied abroad in Paris, an experience that would influence her life in deep and meaningful ways.

For over 40 years she called Nashua, NH her home and was active in the community. New to the area in the ’70s, she joined The Babysitting Coop, and years later remained friends with many of the families she met there. Tennis was a big part of her life and she shared her love of the sport with her kids who remember laughing with her on the courts of the Nashua Swim and Tennis Club. Karen was a Deaconess at First Church, a volunteer at The Nashua Soup Kitchen, and a member of The Good Cheer Society, a group responsible for raising the funds to bring The Hospice House to Southern NH. It would be these amazing Hospice specialists who would support Karen as she approached her own death.

Karen worked in the Nashua school system, first as a math teacher at Crowley elementary, then a library aide and computer specialist at Ledge Street, and as a volunteer throughout her children’s schooling in their classrooms.

A lover of art, she took many classes over the years, including drawing with James Apponovitch at The Studio School, and watercolor with Kevin Dadoly who led her and a group of kindred spirits to Maine in the summers.

Many of Karen’s jobs reflected her love of books and problem-solving. She worked at The Book Barn in the ’80s and ’90s (when the Royal Ridge Mall still had Deering and a fountain) and later down the street at Barnes and Noble. In 2004 Karen became a Realtor, specializing in helping first-time homebuyers. Her clients were impressed with her care and attention and many remained friends.

Before Karen became ill she was a volunteer at the Humane Society and a crew member at Trader Joe’s. She was proud of staying strong, active, and involved. She especially loved working at the TJ’s demo stations where she could share knowledge, meet new people and run into old friends.

Karen is survived by Richard Kittle, her husband, their children, Andrew and Molly, son-in-law Chris Connolly, niece Erin Kuhn, brother Tom Kuhn and three very special cousins who she loved like sisters; Marcy Anderson, Trish Aiello, and Linda Lombardi, as well as their families.

Visit www.KarenKittle.com, where you can learn more about how to participate in or attend her virtual memorial, which will be held on her birthday: Sunday, May 16th, 2021.