KAREN FLETCHER

FLETCHER KAREN LOUISE FLETCHER Karen Louise Fletcher died on May 23, 2021 at Fairfax Hospital after a prolonged hospitalization. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, David Fletcher; her daughter and son-in-law, Nicole and Brian Skinner; her brother and sister-in-law Joseph and Catherine Strain; her cousin Debbie Waechter and her husband Stephen Waechter; her cousin Karl Westfall and his wife Bunny Westfall; her cousins Beth Hosmer, Richard Venditto, and Vicky Venditto; and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved son Daniel Buxhoeveden; her parents Joseph and Geraldine Strain; her uncle and aunt, Neal and Mary Westfall; her aunt and uncle, Regina and Carl Venditto; her aunt Elizabeth Strain, and her sister-in-law Connie Rae Strain. Karen was born October 30, 1951 in Elgin, IL and grew up in Marengo, IL before attending Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA where she graduated with a degree in nursing. She had a long and fulfilling nursing career, working for numerous hospitals in Virginia, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia. She worked for many years in Intensive Care Units and Emergency Rooms and ended her career working in Home Health Care. Always ready with a joke, she liked to say that RN stood for "real nurse." Karen was naturally outgoing, putting others at ease and making friends everywhere she went. She had the habit of noticing small details about a person, like a vibrant pair of socks or an interesting tattoo, and could draw people into conversation by her thoughtful compliments. She was an integral part of the neighborhood she lived in in Springfield, VA for over 30 years. She loved cooking and would make enough to feed everyone in the neighborhood and was always on hand when help or support was needed. She was also an avid reader with a fascination for horror stories (especially Stephen King) and books about serial killers. At her son Daniel's funeral, Karen asked that the following quote by Norman Maclean from his book and movie, A River Runs Through It, was read: "... [W]e can seldom help those closest to us. Either we don't know what part of ourselves to give or, more often than not, the part we have to give is not wanted. And so it is those we live with and should know who elude us. But we can still love them - we can love completely without complete understanding. " A funeral mass for Karen will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church at 11 a.m. preceded by a viewing at 10 a.m.A funeral mass for Karen will be held on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church at 11 a.m. preceded by a viewing at 10 a.m.