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BORN
1947
DIED
2007
Karen Rose Obituary
Graveside service: 11 a.m. Monday in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lyme Disease Association, P.O. Box 332, Tolland, Conn. 06084-0332.
Survivors: Husband, James Martin; son, Marc Heileman; daughters, Shelli Sanderson and Amy Rose; two grandchildren; and sister, Janice Simon.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Karen Rose
Sponsored by James Martin.
Julia Cohen
April 26, 2021
Karen is still with us, comforting and inspiring.
Julia Cohen
April 28, 2020
Karen still means a lot to me, even though I never met her. Her lovely , brave spirit made her my hero.
Llew Walker
July 18, 2019
How sad to find Rose gone! Researching my family tree, I have only just discovered that Rose is my 2nd cousin once removed. We share the same great, great grandfather, Robert Johnson, a wheelwright from Humbleton, Yorkshire England. His son, one of 10 children, was Randolph Johnson, who disappeared in the late 1890's and no-one in the family knew what happened to him. It was the source of great sadness in the family and mystery only recently solved. That was because he jumped ship and began a new life in America, ending up as a carpenter on film sets in California in the 1930's. His son Cyril Howard Johnson was Rose's father. Very sad to find Rose had passed, but I wish all her family peace and good wishes from the mother country.
August 27, 2011
It's been awhile since I've been here. I love and miss you Mom. I wish you could have been here this week to meet your newest grandson, Jonathan Jeffrey
Amy Rose
January 5, 2010
January 05, 2010
Mommy...
I miss you so much. I don't understand how to exist in a world without you in it. I'm still so lost... But God brought me to your website tonight. Nearly 3 years later and I have just read all the messages left here in your honor. I can hardly see through my tears but I feel you guiding me toward healing with all these meaningful messages of hope and love. My greatest fear is that I failed to fully recognize and appreciate your extraordinary show of love and grace and devotion when I had you here. Sometimes our love for each other wore a disguise. I'm so grateful to see that it was not lost on the countless lives you touched through your ministry to those with Lyme and to anyone else you met. I pray that you can feel all the love we have in our hearts for you; the love and loss that I feel so overwhelmingly. My beautiful Mommy... Just this very moment I am recalling a poem I wrote you as a kid:
Thank you for the gift of life you gave to me; It's the most precious gift I'll ever receive. Thank you for your heartache, strength and love; I thank God for you, a gift from Heaven above.
So simple. So true. You gave me life. The ultimate gift that I never fully appreciated until this very moment. It's a new year. 2010. I promise you that I will work harder than ever to create the hopeful life you dreamed of for me. I will carry on for you and with you. I feel you whisper to my heart, giving me strength when I don't think I can carry on. I still need you. Please be near me forever and for always. Let me hear your voice echoed in my music and allow it to bring me joy again. I'll be listening. Your lost little girl - Amy Elizabeth Rose
amy rose
January 5, 2010
Mommy...
I miss you so much. I don't understand how to exist in a world without you in it. I'm still so lost. But God brought me to your website tonight. Nearly 3 years later and I have just read all the messages left here in your honor. I can hardly see through my tears but I feel you guiding me toward healing with all these meaningful messages of hope and love. My greatest fear is that I failed to fully recognize and appreciate your extraordinary show of love and grace and devotion when I had you here. I'm so grateful to see that it was not lost on the countless lives you touched through your ministry to those with Lyme and to anyone else you met. I pray that you can feel all the love we have in our hearts for you. The love and loss that I feel so overwhelmingly. My beautiful Mommy... Just this very moment I've recalled a poem I wrote you as a teenager:
Thank you for the gift of life you gave to me; It's the most precious gift I'll ever receive. Thank you for your heartache, strength, and love. I thank God for you, a gift from Heaven above.
So simple. So true. You gave me life. The ultimate gift that I never fully appreciated until this very moment. It's a new year. 2010. I promise you that I will work harder than ever to create the life you dreamed of for me. I will carry on for you and all that you've blessed me with. I feel you whisper to my heart, giving me strength when I don't think I can carry on. I still need you. Please be near me forever and for always. Let me hear your voice echoed in my music and allow it to bring me joy again. I'll be listening. Your lost little girl - Amy Elizabeth Rose
Marian Amariei -Docan
September 11, 2007
I am werry Sorry,I love you fox,one must stay tought to fight Destiny.
Me and my son Cassian hope to survive better ,helping other people to survive.She was a beautyful figter.Dumnezeu sa o odihneasca!That is in roumanian language.
Laura Gauss
September 7, 2007
My condolences to Karen's family. I have Lyme and babesia for years and hope to see her in heaven when my mission here is finished. Laura
ellen rosner
August 19, 2007
I just visited the Lyme-Info web site and so learned that Rose has died. I'm so very sorry. I want to offer my condolences to her husband and children.
One time I wrote Rose, asking about some article, and she actually answered me. That should not be a surprise, but many people do not respond to questions and I offer this to her survivors - a very good memory and high estimation of Rose.
Angela Ferrari-DeCava
May 28, 2007
Dear Family,
I recently found this website that Rose was big part of.I will pray for her & her family.I've been suffering w/Lyme since 1999,I was 33 yrs old.Now @ 41 I can barely function as a normal human being.Rose is NOT in pain any more.
Rich Weber
May 19, 2007
I can not begin to say how much Rose has meant to the Lyme Disease community. She was an example of how to carry on and help others while inflicted with this most terrible of diseases. I have had Lyme's for over 20 years now and am in poor health and fighting every day to do the most simple of things. The world should know her story, our stories. When will the national television media show what happens to people like Rose and those suffering with Lyme's and the families that suffer along with us as well? I pray for her, her husband and family. She will be greatly missed. G-d Bless
aklnwlf
May 16, 2007
My deepest sympathy to the family of Rose. I didn't know her but after reading the entries here I wish I did.
She must have been one gutsy lady. Through pain and suffering of her own to help as many as she could anyways, regardless of the cost.
Rare, like the perfect sunrise, how tree leaves sound like water at times or the conversation, though meaningless at the time lasts forever in your heart.
Family, Rose will always be remembered. The good ones always are.
Kim Finch
May 15, 2007
Rose was a gift to all of us -Gathering information, inspiring us with stories, relating other stories to us. I didn't know her personally, but through the internet & I was deeply saddened to hear the sudden news. My condolences to her husband and family. We will miss her and her wealth of information and inspiration dearly.
Julia Cohen
May 14, 2007
What a lovely woman Rose seemed to be. And as soon as I found her valuable website, we lost her. I bitterly regret the loss of her knowlege and her generosity, and offer my deepest sympathy to those who knew her.
Barbara Alexander
May 10, 2007
Hello, I am a counselor and nurse in coastal Oregon. I have an aunt and a client with Lyme disease. I have learned all I know about the disease from working with my client. Unfortunately my aunt (who also is named Rose) and I are 3000 miles apart. This Rose also sounds like she was an amazing, smart, lovely, and formidable woman and a great mom and wife. I pray for a cure and have compassion for those of you who are suffering from this horrible illness.
Laurie "Lo" Richardson
May 10, 2007
I send prayers and sincere thoughts for Rose's family. I did not know Rose but we are all one large Lyme Family that suffers. Please know she is still with you in spirit and she will help you with your pain through these long days and nights ahead. She is free of her pain now.
I will pray for all of you.
Barbara
May 9, 2007
I am sorry for your loss. I did not know Rose through a meeting but I knew her through the Lyme Community on the internet. As a chronic lyme sufferer she gave me hope. She will be deeply missed.
Marina Andrews
May 9, 2007
Rose and Family,
Though we've never met our lives are entwined. Lyme disease causes such pain and loss for all of us. I promise to do my best to keep fighting this medical morass of horror until we all rest in peace.
Robert Martin
May 8, 2007
So sorry at your loss from Lyme Disease.
May God comfort all of your family.
Shirley Tomlian
May 7, 2007
I am so sorry to hear of Rose's passing. I wish all of her family & friends my deepest condolences.
May God's peace and comfort surround you at this time.
Phyllis Mervine
May 7, 2007
I was both shocked and saddened to learn of Rose's sudden and unexpected death. I had learned to depend on Rose to distribute information to many people interested in Lyme disease. The group she hosted serves over 1700 people. She was always responsive and cooperative, a real team player and a valuable one, in a community where many are too disabled to help out. She found a niche for herself and dedicated her energy to helping others. We will never know how many lives she touched. I have to believe that it's the quality of life that matters, more than the quantity. Rose's life was not long enough for those whom she left behind, but surely it was a good life.
My sympathy to her friends and family.
Jim Wilson
May 7, 2007
It those people who work behind the scenes giving their time and words for all of us who have suffered or continue to suffer. Another tragic loss for the whole of the lyme community. We at the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation offer our condolensces.
Beth Jordan
May 7, 2007
Rose was a true pioneer. God bless her and all her works.
Annie Giddings
May 7, 2007
I did not know Rose personally but knew her through her moderations of the LymeInfo group and her generous contributions of her time and energy to the Lyme disease community. We have lost a truly amazing woman and my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Tincup
May 7, 2007
Dearest family and friends of Rose,
Today, and for years to come, we will all have one thing in common... a broken heart because we've lost our Rose.
I do know, however, the work Rose accomplished for the Lyme Community will live on forever. Her dedication to our cause has saved many lives and made many lives much better.
I will miss this golden link in our chain of love.
You are all in my prayers.
````````````````````````````````
Rose- May you rest now dear one.. the pain is gone. And please save me a seat when it is time to join you.
Then we can laugh.
You will be missed, no doubt, but you'll NEVER be forgotten.
Love,
James
May 7, 2007
I met rose years ago in albany what a very nice lady so sorry to hear about her passing.
Jim
Nan Hundley
May 7, 2007
I am so sorry to hear about Rose's death. I never did know her personally; however, I felt like I did know her. She had been so supportive in giving Lyme information. I would forward her emails on to my family when 'especially' they did not believe that I had Chronic Lyme.
I wish all of her family my deepest condolences. I will keep all of you in my prayers.
-Nan
sarah knight
May 7, 2007
Dear Rose- you made an impact on my life and the lives of so many. Thank-you for your generosity of spirit and daily gifts of hope in our dark days. May your family know that their grief will be shared by many friends and that we hold them in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank-you for sharing yourself with us,
in love- Sarah Knight
Kezzi & Debs Turner
May 7, 2007
Rose will be sadly missed by myself and family. She has been a neverending source of information and gave so much of herself to sufferers and listowners like ourselves. Blessings to your family. May Rose rest in peace. With love...
Aunt Debby Efting
May 6, 2007
James, Marc, Shelli, Amy,
Bill and I were so sorry to hear about your mom's passing. My dear nephew and nieces, you have been through so much in your young lives, but one thing you can be sure of is that your mom is in a beautiful place and whole once more. God bless all of you.
Roberta Aida
May 5, 2007
Dear, dear, Rose,
I met you in Gettysburg, & daughter Amy too. For years I've enjoyed reading your informative & inspiring posts about Lyme Disease. We were the same age. You were one of the sweetest persons I've ever met & I'll never forget you. I wish we could have met more than once. I am devastated by your loss. You will always be a part of my heart. You brought so much love to this world. Oh, how I miss you! My heart goes out to your family.
Rest in peace.
Love,
Brian Efting
May 4, 2007
To James, Marc, Shelli and Amy:
We are so very sorry to hear about your loss. I haven't seen Karen in many years and had no idea of what she was going through. From the comments left by others it is plain to see she lived her life well, giving of herself to ease the pain of others, making a big difference in a lot of peoples' lives. Take heart knowing that she was so loved and appreciated by so many.
You are in our thoughts and prayers in this time of sorrow.
With love,
Brian and Nancy
Laura Anderson
May 4, 2007
I am so sorry to hear of Rose's passing. I didn't know her, but I've been told of her love and commitment to helping others. The world needs more Roses. Laura
Karen
May 3, 2007
I am so very sorry about Rose.. she was a true joy to know.. i emailed back and forth with her.. i have chronic lyme and i could relate with her..and her with me..she will be sorely missed.. but she is walking with Jesus now.. and my mom.. she is sharing stories ..i miss you mom.. i miss you Rose..i love you both so much..karen
Hardy Housman
May 3, 2007
Marc: I'm sorry for your loss and glad you had that last Christmas with her. Death is mankind's biggest enemy; but as you know, the Lord Jesus solved the problem at His own expense for anyone who can take a free gift! You'll see her again. ~Hardy H.
Jeff Dean
May 3, 2007
Marc - Sorry to hear about your mom passing... I had no idea until I was browsing your page again today.
We love you -
Jeff & Kim Dean
Marc Heileman
May 3, 2007
I miss my Mom more than I can say here. I learned about Salvation through Jesus Christ from her, so I rest easier knowing she's home now. I love you, Mom.
Joyce Murphy
May 2, 2007
My heart goes out to Rose, her family and friends. I met Rose about 2 years ago at Vino's in Hurst where she sang karaoke. She was such a kind person and wonderful singer. I will miss her very much.
Lyndee Loftlady
May 2, 2007
I am so sorry to hear that Rose is gone home. We will miss her.
Never lose sight of love.
Sean Smith
May 2, 2007
Your Mom did so much for so many people. I didn't know her, but she touched me and made tough times easier. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sean
Shelli Sanderson
May 2, 2007
My beautiful Mom..I love and miss you so much. I am so proud of you for touching the lives of so many people. So many of whom you had never even met. The work you did for Lyme disease awareness and support is appreciated by so many and will continue. I know that you are singing with angles, and with Granddad, Grandma and your sister, Jeri. We miss you so, but we take some comfort in knowing that you are pain free now and that you are held by God and your loving parents again. We will honor you by loving each other and by taking care of James. Your eternally loving daughter, Shelli
Ace Robertson
May 1, 2007
They say when a person leaves us we shouldn't be sad.If you look up to the sky,their a cloud that has a smile.Because an Angel has come home.Walk in Peace. Ace
Tim Rowett
May 1, 2007
Our Condolenes to your Family Lyme Disease will be beaten someday, and to the the People like Rose who have worked so hard for so long we will never forget and always be in our prayer's
Cheryl (LymeInfo)
May 1, 2007
Rose was a beautiful person and such a blessing to all who knew her. She was incredibly supportive as a friend and a joy to email with regularly. She was very loving and compassionate and believed strongly in helping others. I can’t say enough good things about her. I miss Rose very much, and yet she is very much alive in my heart. My heartfelt condolences to James and all of her family and friends.
Patty McDermott
May 1, 2007
I only knew Rose through her work
with Lyme via her postings; but I
know that she was one of the first
pioneers who worked so hard and long
to help all of us suffering with
this disease. She was selfless and
provided information and help to the
many who read her group postings.
She was truly an inspiration and a
ray of hope for all of us.
I send my sincerest and deepest
sympathies to her family and
friends.
Rose may be gone from us, but she
and her good deeds, as well as her
love for all of us, will live in our
hearts forever and will never be
forgotten.
.
Nan Hundley
May 1, 2007
Rose gave constant online support to those of us struggling with Chronic Lyme. She will be missed in the Lyme community. My thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family. May she rest in peace and sing with the Angels.
Aoife Ryan
May 1, 2007
I only know Rose through her lymeinfo posts, but have found her posts to be very helpful to me throughout my battle with lyme disease.
I wish to express my condolences to her family and hope that they know how much good she has done for others, in ways she probably never even knew. I am very sorry for your loss.
Carol Fisch
April 30, 2007
Karen, I first met you in Gettysburg and then in Washington and heard you sing your song of life with Lyme. We keep in touch through emails and your Lyme list. Your dedication to the Lyme Community will never be forgotten. You will be missed by so many people. I will miss you.
Geraldine Stevens
April 30, 2007
My sympathy to James and family and friends of Rose who was such a constant online support to those of us struggling with this disease and its effects. May she be in comfort and peace...
Diane Darcy
April 30, 2007
Sending my heart felt compassion to the family members and friends.
May peace be with you Rose.
Katherine Poehlmann
April 30, 2007
Rose provided useful information and guidance for countless Lyme sufferers. She made the world a better place for her being here. She will be remembered always for her selfless outreach to others. May God bless and keep her, and hold her in His loving embrace.
Paula Arenz
April 30, 2007
The battle for lyme patients, young and old, is but begining......she was a pioneer whos voice was sounding the alarm for all of us....may we all pick up the pace and fight for lyme awareness .........
The Angels are holding Rose now....she is pain free.........
Greg Keiran
April 30, 2007
Such a true friend and gentle soul. This lady and her voice will be missed for so long by so many. Our loss is heaven's gain.
Tammy Owen
April 29, 2007
My thoughts and prayers go out to family. Miss Rose will truly be missed by all who knew her. She is now singing with the angels and watching over her family and friends,
James Martin
April 29, 2007
Rose, my darling, we miss you terribly and would give anything to have you back. May you go forward in your afterlife pain free and secure in the knowledge that you are loved, and that the lives you have touched have been made better for having known you. I love you.
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