Karen Parles

I got to know Karen in 2002 when my 51 year old husband, Mark, was diagnosed with stage 3B lung cancer. Like Karen, he was not a smoker and was very fit. He was a cardiologist in Toronto. Karen directed us to outstanding doctors and for this I will always be grateful. She inspired us and gave us hope. It was a privilege and an honour to meet Karen when she was in Toronto speaking at a conference on lung cancer.
It is now 7 years since I lost Mark but I will always remember Karen too. We...

Howard, Shirley and family,
I am Judy Nellen's good friend and we sat together at Bill's wedding. We talked quite a bit that evening about Karen, and I had a few short emails with her. She was a very brave lady and did so much for the benefit of the American Cancer Society. I have been a volunteer with them for 26 years and she was one of the very special people. I know how much she will be missed by everyone. My sympathy to you all.

Hi Shirley and the Parles/DeLong Family,
I am so sorry to hear about Karen. She was a wonderful person. I remember lots of fun times in Latin Class with her at Conard and of course at after school parties. There was never a dull moment with Karen. She had a rye sense of humor, was beautiful and brilliant. I am so proud of the woman she became: channeling her expertise in library science to help others with lung cancer. We were so lucky to have had her in our lives.

Dear James, Christopher, and Casey,
I am so sorry for your loss. I never met Karen but am one of the many people she touched through her lung cancer advocacy. She and I traded a few e-mails after my husband, also an MGH patient of Tom Lynch, died of lung cancer at age 44. My heart goes out to you. I have no wisdom to share -- only my conviction that our loved ones never really leave us.
Chris Cleary