Karen Ann Chiovaro
August 16, 2009
Karen Chiovaro, 53, passed away Sunday, August 16, 2009 at the Kavanagh House on 56th Street.
Karen was born April 3, 1956 in Greenfield, Iowa the daughter of Jack and Dolores (Tilk) Lahey. Karen graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with her B.S. in Secondary Education. Karen retired in 2008 after 27 years of service as Senior Director of Production/Advertising for the Meredith Corporation. Karen enjoyed boating at her lake home at Lake Rathbun, golf, flower gardening especially buck roses, traveling, reading, art and had a love of flamingos. Karen loved spending time with her family and was proud of her volunteer work with the Alzheimer’s Foundation, Susan G. Komen breast walk and the Cystic Fibrosis walk.
Karen is survived by her husband, Dominic; son and daughter-in-law Bill and Allison Wood; son Rick Wood; mother, Dolores Lahey; sister, Joyce Browning; two nephews and five nieces.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2009 from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7075 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines, Iowa. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Des Moines Affiliate.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Jarl Walters
08/19/2009
Dominic: I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Jarl Walters
Mary Fuller
08/19/2009
Dominic, Rick, Bill and Allison, Mrs. Lahey and Joyce,
Karen was my good friend for over 25 years. She was my neighbor first, then my friend and later became a friend to my family. I will miss her so much but know she is looking down on us and will help me to be a better person. She had that effect on everyone. I'm sorry I didn't get to spend much time with her at the end but I understand she needed to be with her family. I feel privileged to have shared important events with her - weddings, parties, girls night out, holidays and just hanging out. No matter what was going on in her life, she always had time to care about everyone else and stay connected. Thanks for sharing her with all of us. :)
Kamy Rizzo English
08/19/2009
I worked at Meredith (BH&G) 2003-2005 - Karen was very warm and welcoming....a pleasure to work with. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless.
Marcia Young
08/18/2009
My sincere heartfelt sympathies to you, Dominic, and your family.
God bless your memories and give you his peace.
She was such a courageous lady. I wish we could have met her, but in many ways I feel like we did through your obvious love and respect.
Take care and know that we all are with you.
Sincerely
Marcia
Emily Kessler Josephson
08/18/2009
To the loving family of Karen Chiovaro,
Karen was one of the most wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure to know. We worked together over 10 years ago and every moment of working with her was a joy. Please accept my deepest sympathies and I know she is resting in peace. All my love and thoughts are with you,
Emily Kessler Josephson
Jenny Hugunin (Fuller)
08/18/2009
Words can not express how sorry I am for the entire family. I have known Karen as long as I can remember. I always looked up to her and thought she was a wonderful friend, mother, wife. Her laugh was contagious and she could light up a room instantly. I used to teach a step class at Meredith that she would take. She would just be making jokes at me the whole class, it was just hysterical. She talked SO highly of her family. You guys were her world....Karen touched so many lives.....
Friends at Boehm Insurance
08/18/2009
Dominic: We're sorry for your loss. We're thinking of you and your family.
Tom and Donna Meerdink
08/17/2009
Dominique, Bill, Rick and family,
What a great lady Karen was! We will continue to keep you in our
thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time. She will
be missed greatly.
Angela (Dingman) Lancaster
08/17/2009
Dominic, Bill, Rick and Family...
Our thoughts are prayers are with you all today. Karen was an amazing person and touched many lives. Our hearts break for your loss...
Jay, Angie(daughter of Becky Dingman), Mackenzie, Madison and Dakota Lancaster
Becky Dingman
08/17/2009
Dominic, Bill, Rick & Family,
Our hearts hurt for all of you today. Karen was such a special person & we feel blessed to have known her and had her as part of our lives. We have great memories of when we were all raising our children. She loved her boys & you, Dominic, so much! We pray that God wraps His arms around all of you during this difficult time. Mark, Becky & Michael Dingman
Dana Evans Lapeyrouse
08/17/2009
Dominic,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you.