Karen Favreau

WINSTON-SALEM — Karen Favreau, 41, died on July 7, 2010 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, following a courageous nine month battle with ovarian cancer.

Karen was born in Gardner, MA on July 29, 1968. She moved to North Carolina in 1996, residing first in Greensboro, before settling in Winston-Salem.

Karen is survived by her life partner, Beth Bealle of Winston-Salem; her parents, Roland and Mary Alma (LeBlanc) Favreau of Gardner; her sister, Patricia Favreau-McKinley, brother-in-law David McKinley, and beloved niece Lily McKinley of Cambridge, MA; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

A self-described perpetual pilgrim and insatiable seeker, Karen shared her life's journey and worldview as an accomplished writer, cartoonist, musician and preacher. She engaged people with her honest, quirky style and trademark sense of humor.

Karen's spiritual journey was captured in her humorous and heartfelt memoir, "Ridiculous Packaging: Or, My Long, Strange Journey from Atheist to Episcopalian, In Two Acts" released in 2005 by Cowley Publications. This book was written during her active membership at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Greensboro, where she and her gifts for ministry were fully embraced. While discerning a call to Holy Orders in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, Karen interned at St. Mary's House in Greensboro and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in High Point, served on team for the Kairos and Cursillo ministries, and preached throughout the Diocese.

As a freelance writer, Karen contributed to the News & Record where she reviewed books and riffed on topics as diverse as religion, politics, gender issues and pet peeves. Her articles were also published in Today's Librarian and American Libraries.

A talented cartoonist, Karen's work was featured in such publications as National Lampoon, Funny Times, Valley Comic News, Nerve, and Factsheet Five. Select cartoons were published in a number of anthologies including, "Funny Times Presents: The Best of the Best American Humor" (Three Rivers Press © 2002), and "The Best Contemporary Women's Humor" (The Crossing Press © 1994). Her comic strip, E-String, was syndicated nationally for one year in 1994. Karen's cartoon weblog, Last Cartoonist Sitting, is available at karenfavreau.blogspot.com. Most recently Karen designed and taught Cartooning 101 workshops to children enrolled in UNCG's All Arts, Sciences & Technology Camp, and in library and church school programs.

Karen fostered a deep love of music. During her college years, she created eclectic song sets as a radio DJ. Having mastered the acoustic guitar, she wrote and performed her own music in clubs in the Amherst, MA area and, later, in venues throughout North Carolina. Most recently she performed as a member of The Church Chicks trio.

Karen earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and two master's degrees from University of North Carolina at Greensboro in library and information studies and in counseling and educational development. She was a member of the International Honor Society for Library Science, Beta Phi Mu, and for Counseling, Chi Sigma Iota.

While in the graduate counseling program at UNCG, Karen received the Marian Pope Franklin Fellowship Award, in recognition of her dedication to excellence in counseling through unselfish caring and concern for others.

During her professional career, Karen served as library manager in the Central North Carolina Regional Library system in Alamance County, and the Greensboro Public Library system. Most recently she served as academic program coordinator for the honors program at North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro.

Karen's many interests, passions, gifts, talents and accomplishments were ultimately channeled towards the betterment and joy of family, friends, friends of friends, and soon-to-be friends. Her life will continue in the hearts of the people she encountered and inspired, whether in person or in spirit.

A celebration of Karen's life will take place on Sunday, July 25, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, 200 North Davie St., Greensboro. A memorial service will be conducted at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Gardner, MA at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 31, 2010, followed by internment at St. John's Cemetery.

Special thanks are offered to the staff of Forsyth Regional Cancer Center and Forsyth Medical Center, and the Cancer Services Support Group, who lovingly cared for and supported Karen during her illness.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, 910 17th Street, NW, Suite 1190, Washington, DC, 20006; or to the House of Peace & Education, 20 Barthel Ave., Gardner, MA, 01440.