Karen Rena Karfit Otto

OTTO - PFFAFTOWN Karen Rena Karfit Otto went home to be with her Savior and Lord on Saturday, October 26, 2013 after her battle with Progress Supranuclear Palsy. She was the eldest of four children. She graduated from Fremont High School in Fremont, OH in 1972. She married Kenneth Allen Otto on October 27, 1973. They met while attending Grace College in Winona Lake, IN. They were about to celebrate 40 years together. Karen was a member of Beck's Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, where she was a member of the Adult V Coed 1 Sunday School Class and the adult choir, prior to her illness. Karen graduated from Rollins College in Melbourne, FL with a B.A. in Organizational Behavior and a minor in Psychology in 1999, while being a wife and mother and working full-time. Prior to her illness, she was working on her master's degree in Gerontology at UNCG. She was a nationally certified activities director and worked at several assisted living and nursing facilities in the Winston-Salem area. She loved people and animals and easily befriended both. Because of her love for animals, she had a desire to be a veterinarian and was a certified social worker because of her love for people. Karen is survived by her husband, Kenneth A. Otto of Pfafftown; their two sons, Christopher Ryan and James Andrew Otto of Winston-Salem; her parents, John & Barbara Karfit of Westfield; her brother, John R. Karfit and wife, Denise and their children: Angie, Rachel, and Camden of Mt. Airy; her sister, Lori Tiell and husband, Scott and their children: Sarah Tiell and Vanessa Porter and husband, Ryan and their daughter Hannah of Omaha, NE; and her brother, Matthew Jason Karfit and wife, JoAnn and their children: Jacob and Mariska of Winston-Salem. Karen is also survived by two uncles: Charles Nance and Clyde Nance and wife, Judy and their children and families of VA; and her aunt, Mary Stone and husband, Barry of Winston-Salem. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Kathy Otto of Hatfield, PA. A celebration of Karen's life, the end of her struggle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, and the joy of her presence with her LORD will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Beck's Baptist Church, 5505 Becks Church Road, Winston-Salem, NC with Dr. Karl Minor officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. A private burial will be held for the family. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com. (Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall Chapel)

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