Karen Hostutler

Karen (Ambrose) Hostutler, age 59, of Cardington, passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family, Thursday afternoon, October 3, 2024 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Karen was a fighter. Before this latest bout with cancer, she was a 17-year survivor of breast cancer.
On October 17, 1964, Karen was born in Ashland, Ohio, a daughter of the late Harold Dean and Shirley Joan (Wolfe) Ambrose. She graduated from Hillsdale High School in the Class of 1983.
Karen married the love of her life, Mark E. Hostutler on August 14, 2001. They shared the last 23 wonderful years together as husband and wife.
Born with the biggest heart, Karen was a nurturer at her core. Whether it was her beloved fur babies, mainly her cats, whom she would take in and care for with all her soul, or her family, who she loved unconditionally. Karen loved without restraint. In addition to her cats, she had a special place in her heart for hummingbirds and liked watching them in the feeders placed around her home.
Her kitchen was always filled with homemade meals, made entirely from scratch. She had a special talent in the kitchen, especially around her favorite holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas brought her the most delight, where she would prepare feasts that brought her family together. She loved nothing more than filling her home with laughter, love, and the scent of her delicious cooking.
Karen enjoyed NASCAR and was a loyal fan of Dale Earnhardt. She was a bit of a closet fan of the Cincinnati Bengals. She may have been a quiet fan of theirs, but at her grandchildren's sporting events, quiet was never the word to describe her. She was their biggest fan, always in the stands, cheering louder than anyone else. You always knew she was there and it could be borderline embarrassing at times.
Karen's love for music knew no bounds. Her likes ranged from 21 Savage and Dr. Dre to Creed and Kid Rock. She was never shy about singing along, often belting out lyrics with enthusiasm, no matter where she was. Shopping was another hobby of Karen's. Whether she was browsing thrift stores or finding deals on Temu, she always found something that brought her or someone else joy.
More than anything, Karen was the glue that held her family together. She was the rock everyone leaned on, the one you could count on for advice, a shoulder to cry on, or simply a smile to brighten your day. Her rule was simple: you never refuse a hug.
Left to cherish Karen's memory are her husband, Mark Hostutler of Cardington; four children: Mollie Young, Stephanie Hazelet, Chayse Hostutler, Colin Hostutler; four grandchildren: Austan, Alyvia, Allasyn, Avery; one great grandchild, Emerie; two sisters: Debbie Ambrose, Brenda Bowles; a brother, Brian Ambrose; her dearest friend, April Wright; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Renee Lynn; a nephew, Bret Ambrose; and a son-in-law, Jeremy Holtrey.
Karen's family will hold a Celebration of Life gathering from 3 – 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 201 Messenger Way, Lewis Center, OH 43035.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Karen's love for her fur babies may be made to Homeless To Home Animal Rescue & Cat Sanctuary, 1745 Marion-Waldo Rd, Marion, OH 43302 or at www.homelesstohome.com.
Snyder Funeral Homes of Mount Gilead are honored to have been chosen to serve Karen's family. Special memories or condolences may be shared by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.