Karen Ann DeSousa

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Karen Ann DeSousa, age 77, who passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025, in Louisville, Colorado.
Karen was born on September 19, 1947, in Camden, New Jersey to Kathryn and William Kulesh. She grew up in New Jersey and attended Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania where she studied to become a teacher. She had two children with her first husband, Tex Peterson and Melissa Peterson. In 1984 she went on a small cruise on the Caribbean Sea and her life was changed forever after meeting Joseph Victor DeSousa. They married at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Haddon Heights, New Jersey on January 4, 1985 and moved to Colorado. She had always wanted a large family so she was happy to gain three adult children and eventually their children. She was not an outdoorsy or adventurist type. She would have been content to sit at home but Joe's love of traveling, camping, skiing, and hiking (not so much this one) got her out experiencing life. Family was very important to her, and she always wanted to be with the people she loved most.
Karen eventually found her way back to teaching Kindergarten at a small private school in Boulder, Bixby. She enjoyed teaching and interacting with children. Even towards the end of her life, any time she was around children she lit up and made connections with them. There is a photo of her at the memory care facility where she lived when preschool children came for an activity, the teachers said she was going to put them out of a job! Karen was goofy, she liked to tell jokes and do silly things to make people laugh, especially children.
She was very devoted to her faith and was happy when she was in church. She was a talented artist and loved to finish any art project that someone else had abandoned. Her favorite modalities were painting and crochet. She also did cross stitch and dabbled in everything else. She loved being part of groups that made quilts and other items for people in need. She felt happiest when she was doing something to help others.
Karen was always striving, growing and learning. She constantly had lists around her of things she wanted to work on and continue to improve. Whenever she encountered obstacles, she strove to overcome them.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Kathryn and William Kulesh, and her husband Joseph DeSousa. Karen is survived by her children Tex Peterson of Annandale, VA, Melissa Peterson of Lafayette, CO, her children by marriage Joseph DeSousa of Boulder, CO, Sue Sadar of Hygiene, CO, Dan DeSousa of Honea Path, SC, her nine grandchildren in order of age: Alex Press of Los Alamos, NM, Tyler Sadar of Hygiene, CO, Keri Sadar of Hygiene, CO, Dalton DeSousa of Dacono, CO, Cella DeSousa of Crested Butte, CO, Siena DeSousa of Boulder, CO Margaret Peterson Crim of Annandale, VA and Zimri Newton of Lafayette, CO, and Zayden Newton of Lafayette, CO, her brother William Kulesh of Wellington, FL, her nieces Brooke Lord of Raleigh, NC and Colleen Dice of Ocean City, NJ.
A memorial service will be held for Karen at 2 PM on Sunday, August 31, 2025 at Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church, 2425 Colorado Avenue, Boulder. All who knew and loved Karen and her family are welcome to attend and celebrate her life.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church.
Rest in peace, Karen. You will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.