Submitted by: Dan Rich

 

Karen Fay Coplen

July 6, 1944 - June 28, 2008

 

South Bend Tribune 7/1/2008
SOUTH BEND - Karen Fay Coplen, 63, of South Bend, IN, passed away at 6:40 p.m. Saturday, June 28, 2008, in Hospice House, from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, most commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. Karen was diagnosed with ALS 17 months ago. She was born on July 6, 1944, in South Bend, to Bill and Stella (Arendt) Kaniewski, and was a lifelong resident. She retired in March 2007 from The Troyer Group, where she was employed for 23 years.

 

On July 9, 1977, in South Bend, as Karen Fay Kaniewski, she married Michael L. Coplen, who survives. Also surviving are her children, Stephanie (Shaun) Daugherty and Todd Piech, both of South Bend, IN; three grandchildren, Alex, Ian and Bridget Daugherty; her mother, Stella Kaniewski of South Bend, IN; and her sister, Sandra (Frank) Martinez of South Bend, IN.

 

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 3, 2008, in the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive. Friends may call from noon until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday in the funeral home. Karen was a 1961 graduate of Washington High School. She loved being a grandmother. She was a member of Bowlers Country Club and enjoyed tennis, golfing, bowling, traveling and gardening. Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.