Karen B Dufault

Karen Brown Dufault died peacefully at home with her loving and devoted husband of 54 years, David, by her side on November 7, 2021. Karen was born on February 21, 1943 in Lincoln, NH daughter of Ann Marie and Martin Brown, Jr. She moved to Brattleboro, VT and lived there until she went to Cushing Academy for her junior and senior years of high school. She graduated from Colby Junior College in 1963 and became a stewardess for United Airlines loving all the travel opportunities the job offered. Karen and David married in 1967, and moved to NYC, where she worked as a bridal buyer for Mercantile Stores. They then moved to Contoocook, NH where they lived for 47 years. In 2018 they moved to Havenwood Heritage Heights in Concord. Karen is survived by her two children, Julie Bean and husband, Michael, of Portsmouth, NH and Pete Dufault and wife, Erin (Maloney), of Monkton, VT and three granddaughters, Annie and Meredith Dufault and Piper Bean. Additionally, Karen is survived by her sister, Gretchen Anderson, of Washington and several nieces and nephews. Karen is predeceased by her brother Martin Brown, III.

Family was very important to Karen. She loved attending her children’s activities and having family gatherings at their house in Contoocook, gatherings at the family cottage, and traveling as a family. Karen loved all her family, friends and all her CaringBridge supporters who prayed for her while she struggled with metastatic bladder cancer for over 2 years. Karen loved being outside in God’s exquisite nature, traveling, horseback riding, downhill and nordic skiing, tennis, walking and organizing groups within her community or the church. She felt that her mission in life was to help others, and was instrumental in organizing the thrift shop Classic Reruns, with proceeds benefiting St. Theresa Parish, as well as the needy in the area. When her children were old enough to attend school, Karen obtained her Bachelor's degree at Southern New Hampshire University. A few years later, she got her Master’s Degree in Social work from the University of New England, and assisted families in Riverbend’s Parent Child Centers. Karen co-founded the Hopkinton Hospice Program which was eventually absorbed by the CRVNA which is now the Granite VNA. Karen loved living at HHH where she discovered yoga, Silver Sneakers, Qi Gong, and The Hiking Group. Karen loved her family of friends at St. Theresa’s Parish in Henniker and at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Concord. She had a very strong Catholic faith and felt very close to God and was very comfortable planning her final trip Home to her Creator.

The family is extremely grateful for the wonderful care provided by the staff of Granite VNA, not only in the Hospice House, but also at home by the visiting nurses who allowed one of Karen’s wishes to be fulfilled - to leave this earth peacefully and at home.

There will be a funeral Mass on Saturday November 13, 2021 at 11:00 AM at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Henniker, NH. A light lunch will be served at the parish hall, following the Mass, and then burial will occur at the Old Hopkinton Cemetery adjacent to the Town Hall in Hopkinton, NH. All are invited to attend these events.

In her continuing desire to help others, Karen requests that in lieu of flowers, prayers and monetary contributions can be made to:
Family Promise of Greater Concord, 176 Loudon Road, Suite #2, Concord NH, 03301 or
Merrimack Valley Day Care Service, 19 N Fruit Street, Concord NH, 03301 or
Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, PO Box 3933, Concord, NH 03302

Assisting with arrangements is the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, Manchester. To view Karen’s online tribute, send condolences to his family, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.