Karen Gilfoil Wolf

Karen Gilfoil Wolf FARMINGDALE, ME - Karen L. Gilfoil Wolf, 58, of Farmingdale, Maine, a teacher and native of Springfield, Mass., died Friday, December 2, at home. Raised in Springfield, she was the daughter of Walter J. Gilfoil, who died in 1976, and Dorothy L. (Mason) Gilfoil, who died in 1982. She had lived in Farmingdale for the past 12 years. Prior to that she lived in Germany for 15 years, last residing in the town of Moembris-Hemsbach, and previously in Kleinostheim and Langenselbold. Bilingual, she was fluent in German. She taught at the Grace Christian Academy in West Gardiner, Maine, for the past two years, and was previously a teacher and counselor at the North Atlantic Regional School in Lewiston, Maine. She also home schooled both of her daughters. A 1971 graduate of the former Classical High School in Springfield, Mass., she later studied linguistics and German at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, receiving her degree in 1982. While living in Germany, she was a member of the American Women's Club of The Taunus, which provided support to U.S. citizens in the German prison system to ease their isolation. Before earning her degree at UMass, she worked for many years as a waitress at the landmark Student Prince restaurant in Springfield, where she met her husband of 30 years, Peter B. Wolf, a now-retired certified executive chef who had emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. She trained at Allard's Tae Kwon Do Center in Augusta and later at the Augusta Taekwondo Center, attaining the rank of 7th Gup green belt. She travelled extensively throughout her life, visiting many different countries. Besides her husband, she leaves two daughters, Katherine Wolf of Farmingdale and Katelyn Wolf of Westerly, R.I.; five brothers, Peter J. Gilfoil of Ormond Beach, FL, Gregory A. Gilfoil of Little Falls, N.J., Timothy N. Gilfoil of Madrid, Spain, Richard W. Gilfoil of Springfield and Bruce E. Gilfoil of Burke, VA, and many nieces and nephews. A brother, Mark S. Gilfoil, died in 1974. There will be a memorial service December 17 at 10 a.m. at Grace Community Chapel, 187 Lewiston Road (Route 126), West Gardiner, Maine. Burial will be in Hillcrest Park Cemetery in Springfield, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Harold Alfond Cancer Center in Augusta, Maine.