Karen F. Reed Obituary, Death – On November 7, 2022, in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, Karen F. Reed (McCue) passed away at the age of 79. On September 30th, 1943, in Hartford, Connecticut, Karen McCue was born to her parents, Francis D. McCue and Margaret E. McCue (Larkin). Our Lady of the Angels Academy in Enfield, Connecticut is where Karen received her diploma. Karen pursued her education further at UMASS, where she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree. Karen, who has lived in Southwick for more than half a century, was a member of the Christ Lutheran Church for many years, during which time she was a member of the church’s choir.
Karen was a former member of both the Cultural Council and the Community Preservation Committee, both of which she served on during her time as an extremely active member of her community (CPC). She had just been elected to the chair of the Southwick Housing Authority when she passed away while holding that position. Karen served as a Social Worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance for the better part of 37 years of her life. After that, she continued her career in child care at the YMCA in Westfield, Massachusetts, where she worked for an additional 18 years.
Karen cherished spending the majority of her free time doting on her plethora of pets, working on stunning works of art, taking her grandchildren out to eat, and socializing with her friends at the Daily Grind or Zantos Restaurant. Karen is survived by her brother David McCue of Connecticut, her sons David Reed of Southwick, John Reed of Southwick, Richard Reed and his wife Stacy of Southwick, and her daughter Jeanne Reed-Waldron and her husband Harold of Southwick.
She is also survived by her husband Harold Reed and her daughter Jeanne Reed-Waldron. In addition, Karen is survived by her six grandchildren, Jordan Reed, Myles Reed, Miranda, Molly, Joshua, and Jackson; her niece and nephews, Mary McCue of Connecticut, Patrick McCue and his wife Lori of Connecticut, and Sean McCue and his wife Lisa of Connecticut; and a large number of friends who will miss her terribly. The family would like to extend an extra special thank you to Karen Phillips’s longtime friends Bud and Patricia Phillips, who sadly passed away.
Karen was preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband, Elwin R. Reed, both of her brothers, Patrick McCue and Dennis McCue, and two close friends who passed away not too long ago. Please consider making a memorial contribution to the Southwick Animal Shelter in lieu of sending flowers. The shelter’s address is 11 Depot Street, Southwick, Massachusetts 01077; online donations can be made at https://www.animalshelter.org/donate.asp.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 from 11 AM until 1 PM at the Avalon Life Celebration Center & Cremation Services, LLC located at 691 College Hwy, Southwick, Massachusetts 01077. Family and friends are invited to attend. The funeral home will host a prayer service at one in the afternoon, and then the burial will take place at New Southwick Cemetery.