From Leah Keshet

To Karen:

I knew you through your wonderful daughter, Adriana, whom I had the privilege of supervising as a PhD student at UBC. It was through Adriana’s eyes, memories, and life, that I got to appreciate you and the rest of the Dawes family.

I’ll never forget the …

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From Monica Duschenes

Karen was one of the warmest, liveliest, most sensitive, smartest and fiercely loyal people I have ever known. Although I am heartbroken and in disbelief at her passing, I still sometimes manage a smile when I think of her and all the good times and endless laughs we shared.

Our …

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From David Roe

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Karen. I was notified of her passing by Karen Hjort (Gerber), an inseparable friend of Karen’s. Karen was a couple years behind me at the University of Toronto when she and I were studying music. We both played in …

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From Dimitra Fera

My name is Dimitra Fera. I would like to contribute a poem by the mystic poet Rumi. ” Out beyond any ideas of wrongdoing or right doing there is a field. I will meet you there”. For me this was Karen!

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From Don Mowatt

I first met Karen forty-five years ago in the company of her husband Andy and her two young daughters. She was then both engaging and engaged, full of humour, optimism, energy and wisdom. Articulate about art, current affairs and family matters, she exuded a vibrancy that was contagious and highly …

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From Judith Atkinson

It was a delight and a privilege to have known Karen through working with the Artist’s of Kerrisdale, she had that infectious grin with such a playful attitude and a genuine big heartedness with the multitude of things she loved and loved to paint. Especially her butterflies and adding …

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From Judy Barlow

Dear Andy and family,

I am so very saddened to hear of Karen’s death. It does not seem possible that such a sunny person is gone. My memories of Karen are from many years ago, when we were childhood friends, hanging out at each other’s homes, and endlessly …

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From Paul Myers

Sparkle. That’s it. She just had it. In spades too. I was only privileged to know Karen for four years but from the moment I first saw that sassy streak of purple hair I knew that I was in the presence of someone who lived happily in her very …

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