Karen Aileen Rovick

Karen Aileen Rovick

Vero Beach, FL - Cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Karen Aileen Rovick passed away peacefully on September 07, 2024, at 84 years of age, surrounded by her loving family. Karen devoted her life to connecting with and to helping others, notably as a teacher, interior designer, and devoted community volunteer.

Karen was born in Fargo, ND in 1940 to William F. Walsh and Muriel L. Thompson, and spent much of her childhood in Seattle with her brother Dennis and sister Jan. Her family moved to Minneapolis during her high school years, where Karen attended Washburn High School.

She continued her education at The University of Minnesota, earning her bachelor's degree. She moved to San Franciso with friends, later frequently sharing fond memories of her time there. She married John Rovick in August 1963 and gave birth to sons Eric (1967 in Hartford) and Peter (1969 in Detroit). Karen pursued coursework in Spanish and Education and became an elementary school Spanish teacher.

Karen & John settled in Chatham, NJ in 1972 where they would raise their boys and were members of the United Methodist Church for over 30 years. In addition to her devotion to raising her family, Karen was a very active community volunteer, giving her time & energy to the Junior League, the Chatham Library, and to her church.

Karen continued her teaching path as an education assistant in the Chatham Schools as her sons completed high school. In the early 1990s Karen pursued a longstanding interest in interior design, passionately diving into her coursework at the Parsons School of Design.

For the better part of the next two decades, Karen applied her love of design and color theory in local homes and in her own home, also lending her talents to several projects in her church including redecorating the parsonage.

In retirement, Karen and John divided their time between their homes in Florida and New Hampshire, enjoying visits from family and so many close friends. They have been grateful parishioners of the Community Church of Vero Beach for over a decade.

Karen is survived by John, her husband of 61 years, their children Eric (Andree) and Peter (Suzanne). She adored her grandsons David, Oscar, Nicholas, and Jack, spending as much time with them as possible. She was loved dearly and will be truly missed.

Private celebrations of life will be held this fall (NH) and winter (FL).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Community Church of Vero Beach. https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Giving/comm1901206.

To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.