Karen Jenkins

Karen (Nelson) Jenkins, 59, of Beverly, passed away on Tuesday, August 26. Born December 3, 1965, she was the daughter of Susan (Ouimette) Nelson and the late Andrew Richard Nelson. At an early age she developed a love for sports, playing little league, pool, and tennis on traveling leagues.

A graduate of Masconomet Regional High School, Class of 1983, Karen went on to Northeastern University on a tennis scholarship, earning recognition as a ranked player. Following college, she began her career with Putnam Investments at the heart of Boston's financial district.

Karen married Stephen Jenkins in the late 1990s in a simple courthouse ceremony that reflected their shared love of a life without pretense, and together they built a life marked by simplicity, humor, and devotion to family. Together they had two sons, Andrew and Matthew, who were the source of her greatest pride. For Karen, life's greatest happiness was found at home with Stephen and the boys, especially when her niece Lindsay was there with them.

She was predeceased by her husband, Stephen, in 2001, and by her father, Andrew, in 1991. She is survived by her two sons, Andrew Lanni and Matthew Lanni; her mother, Susan (Nelson) Booth; her Aunt, Barbara Ouimette, her sister, Leslie (Nelson) Feeley; her niece Lindsay Molleo; and many extended family members and friends who will remember her.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Karen's memory to National Institute of Mental Health or to Brigham and Women's Hospital.