Karen Ann Fadyn

Karen A. Fadyn, 70, of Marietta, Georgia passed away on September 20, 2022. A funeral service will be held in the chapel at Marietta Funeral Home on Monday, September 26, 2022 with visitation from 10 AM to 12 Noon, followed by the funeral service from 12 to 1 PM. She will be laid to rest at Kennesaw Memorial Park with a graveside service beginning at 1:30 PM.
Karen was a high-school graduate of Saint Basils Academy in Philadelphia. She attended and graduated from La Salle University with a B.A. in English. She then went to Beaver College (now named Arcadia University) and achieved an M.A. in English. Somewhat later in life she took graduate level courses in connection with pursuing a doctoral degree at Georgia State University. She was the Director of the English Program at the Diagnostic Center in Philadelphia for a number of years. She went on to teach English at many different colleges including Montgomery County Community College, Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia State University, Southern Polytechnic University, Kennesaw State University and Georgia Highlands College. She taught a wide variety of courses including English Composition I and II, but she especially enjoyed teaching both American and World Literature. In connection with her teaching duties, she has been the member of several professional organizations including SAMLA (Southern Atlantic Modern Language Association) and the Poe Society of Baltimore. In addition she was an Advanced Placement Faculty Reader for a number of years for the ETS (Educational Testing Service). She was also a GA Regents' Test Essay Grader for at least ten years. Her biography is included in Who's Who Among America's Teachers 1994-1995.
Karen was an avid reader. She enjoyed reading non-fiction, including biographies and especially books about royal families. She was an expert on British Royalty having read literally hundreds of books about that topic. Of course she also read countless books about literature and especially the significance of color and symbolism in literary works. Her favorite classical author was Shakespeare. Her favorite modern author was Tennessee Williams and her favorite play The Glass Menagerie by Williams. She was also a great fan of Edgar Allen Poe.
Karen was always interested in travel. She began by going on a senior class trip in high school to Greece for a week. As a student in graduate school, she spent a summer studying in England (her favorite place). She returned to England several times since that and also visited various other European countries such as France, Wales and Scotland. Karen loved animals, especially cats. She owned many cats and dogs over the years. She participated in spay/neuter activities on cats to reduce the feral cat population at her own expense. Upon her death she leaves behind her only current cat, Dixie girl.
Karen was preceded in death by her father William Roshko and her mother Victoria Roshko. Karen is survived by her husband, Joseph Fadyn and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews.