Karen Godlewski

Karen Hope Gardner Godlewski, of Greensburg, died on March 24, 2018 in Shadyside Hospital-UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh.  She fought a courageous fight against a very virulent and aggressive cancer that was diagnosed on December 24, 2017.  The Hillman Center doctors stated it was the fastest moving cancer from diagnosis to her death that they have ever seen.  Karen was daughter of the late William Warren Gardner and Louise Swanson Gardner.  She was also, preceded in death by her brother, Warren William Gardner and his wife Carol; and son-in-law, John Lawrence.  Karen is survived by her husband of 51 years, Thomas J. “Tom”  Godlewski; daughters, Gretchen “Gigi” Lawrence of New Hope, PA,  Alexis Hope Jackman, MD (Patrick) of Greenwich, CT, Rachel Godlewski (Matthew Carper) of Minneapolis, MN; a brother, Jon Curtis Gardner (Pat) of Irwin; grandchildren, Maisie and Theodore Carper and Charlie Jackman; 2 nieces, Bonnie Gardner-Bullock and Marcie Lynn Gardner; 3 nephews, J. Curtis, Eric W., and David Gardner.  Her family was the love and the center of her life.  She was very proud her children and their accomplishments.  Karen received her R.N. certificate from the Westmoreland School of Nursing, her B.S. degree in early childhood psychology from Seton Hill College and her master’s in public health from Penn State University.  She was a ward nurse at Westmoreland Hospital, an operating room nurse at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and retired as a school nurse in the Greensburg Salem School District.  She was a member of Greensburg Country Club and Pike Run Country Club.  She also was a board member of both the Greensburg-Hempfield Library and Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity.  She was in two knitting circles in Greensburg and Ligonier.  She most enjoyed gardening and hated weeds and loved days split between gardening and knitting and always being with her family.  Family and friends will be received on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 from 4 to 8 pm at Kepple-Graft Funeral Home, 524 North Main Street, Greensburg.  A memorial service with Eucharist will be held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh 15206.  Please everyone go directly to the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Seton Hill College, 1 Seton Hill Drive, Greensburg, PA 15601.  For online condolences, please visit www.kepplegraft.com .