Karen Jo Horwitz Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

In Loving Memory of Karen Jo Horwitz, Kapolei, Hawaii Karen Jo Horwitz passed away on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Pali Momi Medical Center on Oahu. Karen was a beautiful person, both inside and out. She was loved by her friends, family, and students, will be missed, and her memory will be cherished always. She loved her extended family including her numerous lifelong friends and their families, many cousins, nieces and nephews, step brother and step sister, her two brothers (Ken and Larry) and their families, the many families she adopted through her life as a teacher as well as the many children she tutored in California and Hawaii, and the many friends including members of her prayer group and members of her church, from her church, New Hope Kapolei. Karen loved her dogs. Karen was born in North Hollywood, California on August 15, 1956, to her parents, James Horwitz and Sonya Beck Horwitz and grew up with her two older brothers, Kenneth David Horwitz, and Lawrence Paul Horwitz. Growing up in Northridge, California, Karen attended Nobel Junior High School followed by Granada Hills High School. Karen graduated from California State University Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts degree and National University in Costa Mesa with a Master of Science degree. Following college, Karen lived in Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita in California for nearly three decades. Her teaching career including teaching K-8 with the Capistrano Unified School District, the Saddleback Unified School District, and with the Irvine Unified School District. Her last teaching assignment in California was with the Santa Ana Unified School District where she was a Resource Specialist for grades K-5. Karen was devoted to and proud of the many students she taught in California. As a lifelong enthusiastic fan of everything Disney and a collector of Mickey Mouse memorabilia, Karen was thrilled to supplement her teaching career with a part-time weekend job with Disneyland® from 2010 to 2012. An incredibly special day, March 10, became reason to celebrate for the rest of her life because on March 10, 2010, Karen received a Congratulations Award from Disneyland “for successfully earning your ears.” Her favorite quote was from Walt Disney who said, “It takes people to make the dream a reality.” Karen was always the person to ask for advice about the latest Disney movies or the best rides and experiences at Disneyland, Disney World, and Epcot. For birthdays and celebrating special occasions, Karen always sent a card with a Disney character of two. Her car keys and house keys were always on one of her many key chains with various Disney characters dangling from one end. Karen’s “Oh, happy day!” checks with Winnie the Pooh were fun to receive. One of her favorite bracelets had numerous small charms of various Disney characters and Disney celebrations dangling, and each good for a story, when she was wearing it. In 2012, fulfilling a dream of many years, Karen moved to Island of Oahu in Hawaii to continue her teaching career. Karen was devoted to and immensely proud of the many students she taught and tutored in Hawaii. As a Special Ed Co-Teacher and Special Ed Resource Teacher, Karen taught a range of subjects from middle school English to high school US History, Hawaiian Studies, and Democracy. Her favorite subjects to teach were US History and Hawaiian Studies. On weekends, Karen volunteered at the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument (now the Pearl Harbor National Memorial). Karen loved meeting with visitors, historians, authors, and talking with distinguished WWII veterans, especially veterans of Pearl Harbor with their families. Karen was enormously proud that she was recognized with a special plaque from the National Park Service with the inscription, “Karen, You make a difference, Mahalo Nui Loa, WWII Valor in the Pacific.” Karen always remembered to celebrate a friend’s or relative’s birthday, special recognition of a lifetime milestone, or the celebration of a special occasion. Karen loved spending time with her many friends and relatives. During the past several years, she enjoyed time with the many friends in Hawaii that had made her a part of their families. She found peace, comfort, and spiritual companionship with her many friends and Ohana (extended family) at her church, New Hope Kapolei, where she was baptized in 2015. In 1998, after the passing of Karen’s mother, Karen adopted her mother’s dog, Astor. Karen and Astor were inseparable. After Astor went to doggie heaven in 2008 (age 20), Karen adopted a toy poodle, born in May 2008, and named him Rhett Butler. Since 2008, Rhett has been Karen’s constant companion and provider of endless affection and comfort. When Rhett could no longer jump on Karen’s bed on his own, Karen had a set of doggie stairs made so Rhett could climb up his own miniature stairs to rest on top of Karen’s bed. Rhett’s favorite toys, to Karen’s dismay, were soft toys of Disney characters. Rhett loved Karen’s Disney soft toy collection too. Following Karen’s last wishes, Rhett will continue to live on Oahu with a wonderful family that loves dogs. Karen, we miss you and will always love you. As you begin volunteering, teaching, and tutoring in Heaven, we know that you are in peace knowing that you always were a loving sister, aunt, and cousin; always an active member of your community; a very dear and supportive friend to many; and always looked for the best in everyone. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 Karen has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, or New Hope Kapolei - Food Pantry. A virtual celebration of Karen’s life will take place in the fall for Karen’s friends and family members. Of course, pets will be invited too.

Karen Jo Horwitz

August 15, 1956 - June 25, 2022