Obituary of Karen Marie Bonfiglio

STOW - Karen Marie Bonfiglio, 57, died February 3, 2017. Born in Montpelier, Ohio, Karen was a resident of Stow for 26 years, a member of Riverwood Community Chapel and currently attending Christ Community Chapel in Hudson. Karen received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Toledo. She had a diverse career, which included practice in a medical-cardiovascular intensive care unit, work as a Transplant Coordinator, several years as a home health nurse, and a term as the Education Coordinator for Hattie Larlham. In more recent years, she provided health screenings and immunizations through Akron General Health and Wellness and worked as an Oral Health Educator for Embracing Futures. Her love of the outdoors, particularly in sunshine, was fostered during her childhood spent on her beloved family farm in Northwest Ohio. This continued throughout her life as she enjoyed hiking and biking in our local parks. And she absolutely loved the beach. She was proud to have developed her athletic talents later in life. Prior to a back injury, she competed in many distance races, excelling in her age group. She was committed to fitness, serving as an instructor for a local health club and ALWAYS encouraging others. She was passionate about music, in many forms, but it was her love of classical music that was most enduring. She mastered challenging pieces on piano and her singing voice filled her home and her congregation. Her creativity was infused into her parenting. Her imagination was boundless, as she would often make up songs while playing with her children and granddaughter, and her whimsical humor often punctuated their story-times, as she flipped between the characters’ “voices” and differing accents to the children’s delight. Her keen intelligence was demonstrated in the classroom and continued throughout her lifetime, as she would take on new subjects, whether learning Spanish for a mission’s trip or reading about new medical advances. She loved to study the Bible, whether alone or in groups of close friends. She was an avid reader and could engage in respectful, informed discussion on nearly any topic. Her life was marked by her generosity, compassion and service for others. She loved her family fiercely, and her love extended into the lives of so many. She frequently took up the cause of those facing times of struggle. She volunteered at Urban Vision in Akron and participated in the local care of refugees. She is best described as someone who glowed; her smile was radiant, her compassion for others reached into the darkest of corners, and her laugh will always echo in our memories. She will be remembered for her unwavering faith, even when she endured difficult times. We are left with the warmth of her spirit and her dedication to the many people she loved. We were blessed to have known her, to have loved her, and to have witnessed her glimmer-all too briefly, but ever so brightly, in the years shared with us. We are comforted by the knowledge that she is at peace in the arms of her Savior. Karen is survived by her husband of 33 years, Mark; daughters Hannah (Mitchell) Monas, Regina Bonfiglio and Maria Bonfiglio; granddaughter Charlotte Marie Monas; parents James and Beverly Miller; sisters Cali (Steve) Minich, Carol (Brion) Deitsch and Corrine (Ryan) Zimmerman. Friends are invited to Redmon Funeral Home for visitation Wednesday 4 to 8 PM. The funeral service will be on Thursday at Riverwood Community Chapel 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Urban Vision, 749 Blaine Avenue, Akron, Ohio 44310.