Obituary of Karen Kilgallen

Karen A. Kilgallen April 4, 1948–March 27, 2025 Karen A. Kilgallen, age 76, passed away peacefully at her home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania on Thursday, March 27. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Karen was a proud New Yorker and graduate of Catherine McCauley High School. Growing up and throughout her life, she was very close with her large family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. A lifelong lover of music, she went to countless concerts of eventual legends, including the Beatles; the Rolling Stones; the Beach Boys; Fleetwood Mac; Hall and Oates; and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. She was even friends with the members of Poco. Karen had a successful career, first as an executive assistant in the office of the New York City Mayor in City Hall, Downtown Manhattan, then at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City. Later, Karen moved to Milford and then Hawley, Pennsylvania. She spent time as a travel agent and was active in local politics, eventually starting her own successful consulting business, helping local communities manage their properties, staffs, and finances. Through the years, she enjoyed memberships in the Red Hats and her local Catholic parishes. She was always up for fun, such as traveling, singing, playing games, going to pool parties and porch parties, line dancing, tap dancing, and seizing any opportunity to play dress up. She was very involved in her children’s activities, including leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and her son’s football boosters. (You may have heard her ringing her cowbell at one of those games.) She was a great listener, and she always found a reason to smile and laugh, even through difficult times. Karen is survived by daughter Keightley Amen (Wittich); son-in-law Rob Amen; their children, Elizabeth, Alex, Matthew, and William; son Gary; daughter-in-law Melissa (MacDowell); and their children, Eden, Caroline, and Joey. She also is survived by sister Mary Jane Graf; brother-in-law Ralph Graf; and their children, Ashley Federer (husband Mike and daughter Sophie) and Ryan Graf (wife Jess and daughter Audrey). She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary Kilgallen. Karen’s family wishes to thank her neighbors, home helpers, and hospice nurses for their help and friendship. The family will receive friends at Arthur A. Bryant Funeral Home, 1228 Main St., Honesdale, from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1 and from 8:30-9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2. A Catholic Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2 at St. Mary Magdalen Church, 416 Church St., Honesdale. Family and friends are invited to a lunch reception after church at a location to be determined. In lieu of flowers, Karen asked that donations be made to the National Kidney Foundation.