Karen Fiorello

Karen Fiorello passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025, at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla in the arms of her husband, Marco, at the age of 82. She bravely battled cancer, with the heart of a lion, for 14 years. Karen was a wonderful wife, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and mentor who deeply touched the lives of all who knew her. Karen decorated our lives and will always be with us in our hearts.

Karen was born to Russ and Peg Newberg on January 28, 1943, in San Francisco, California. Shortly after her birth, the Newberg family moved to San Bernardino, California. Karen was a student at Del Rosa Elementary School, Golden Valley Junior High School and Pacific High School. After attending UC Riverside for one year, she got a short-term job as an Elf at Santa's Village in the San Bernardino mountains. After that, she attended Skadron Business College. Her first job after graduating was Secretary to the Mayor of San Bernardino. Afterwards, Karen got a Job as Secretary for Human Resources at Aerospace Corporation in San Bernardino. A mutual friend set Karen and Marco up for a blind date, and the rest is history. Marco and Karen were married at the Sacred Heart Church in Redlands, California on October 5th, 1968. They celebrated their 56th anniversary on October 5th, 2024.



Karen was, by all measures, an extraordinary and gifted natural athlete. She loved tennis, cycling, baseball, horseback riding and soccer. She played soccer on a team in Virginia named the "Washington Redshins" that won their league championship, and was MVP on her softball team 4 years in a row. She also ran in the 1987 America's Finest City Half Marathon with her brother, Bob.



Her adventures included trips to Europe, Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Hawaii, including the 435-mile Iowa RAGBRAI bicycle odyssey, the 100-mile Century Anniversary Philadelphia Liberty Bell to the Statue of Liberty bicycle ride, hiking the Grand Canyon, a safari in Kenya, and riding horseback around the pyramids in Egypt.



Karen possessed the most beautiful and contagious smile. No matter how long you knew her, whether it be a matter of minutes, years, or a lifetime, Karen would make you feel loved. Her quick smile, bright sparkling blue eyes and easy laugh touched everyone around her.



Karen is survived by her husband Marco, Brother Bob (Linda) Newberg, Niece Karen (Josh) George, Nephew Rusty (Paula) Newberg, grandnieces Claire George and Brooke Newberg, grandnephew Parker George, brothers-in-law Frank Fiorello and Carmine Fiorello, niece Elena (John) McCabe and grandniece Abree McCabe.



A celebration of her life and memory will be held 1- 4pm Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Karen's memory to two of Karen's favorite charities: International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF), (941) 927-4963, info@iwmf.com and, St Vincent de Paul Father Joe's Villages (619) 233-8500



Above all, we give thanks for a life well lived. The life of a woman, the unique and irreplaceable Karen, whose beauty, both inside and out, will never fade from our souls.