Obituary of Karen L. Winslow

Karen Winslow, 69, of Saratoga Springs passed peacefully after a courageous battle with lung cancer on July 7, 2018.

Karen was born on March 20, 1949 in Queens, New York to Paul and Ingeborg Muller. She was a 1966 graduate of Richmond Hill High School and continued her education to become a laboratory technician. Although working for the Magic Marker Corporation as a colorist for a period of time, her job as a mother and military wife took precedence. She first became a resident of Saratoga Springs in 1972, while her first husband was stationed at the Kesselring Naval Site in West Milton. After multiple moves in and out of state, she became a permanent resident of Saratoga in 1981. Karen, her parents, and first husband, Skip (Frank) Litterer, purchased a small store location on Route 29 in the Town of Saratoga and turned it into a thriving business known as the Blue Spruce, which was aptly named for the large Blue Spruce tree located on the property. She was the proud co-owner and operator of that business for 12 years. For a period of time after the closing of the Blue Spruce, Karen and her mother, Inge, ran a shop called the Ye Olde Yard Sale Shoppe in downtown Schuylerville. Then in 1998, Karen began a career with Original Works Yours (OWY), where she remained employed until her illness prevented her from returning in late 2017. Her fondness for her co-workers, the company owners, and her desire to return to doing the work she enjoyed so much provided her much drive through her 19-month battle. It was always her desire to return. There is no doubt that she will come by OWY, the gardens there and each of us from time to time in the form of a ladybug or dragon fly, as she often stated.

Karen's creativity and artistic nature led her to also running two separate craft businesses where she would make painted wood, painted glass and stained glass creations. She loved the creative process and even mentioned wanting to start painting again before departing.

Karen also enjoyed time with friends bowling and throwing horseshoes. She will always be remembered for her caring and giving personality. She always had a genuine smile, a kind word, a shoulder to cry on, and would give of herself unconditionally. She knows that she was loved and will be missed dearly by her family and friends, but would ask that we honor her through kindness and caring for one another, and to take the time to enjoy times and traditions together...to celebrate life.

Karen was predeceased by her parents, Paul Muller (1993), Ingeborg Baer Muller (2017), sister-in-law, Margaret Newton Muller (1993), and second husband, Chester (2016).

She is survived by her children, Joanne (Greg) McDermott, Frank (Cheryl) Litterer; her grandchildren, Gregory McDermott, II, Hunter McDermott and Hailey Litterer; her sister, Joyce (William) Jenison; brother, Kenneth (Carolyn) Muller; her nephews Daniel Muller, James (Monique) Muller, Jeffrey (Kari) Schaeffer, Matthew Jenison, and her niece, Jennifer Jenison, as well as her grand-nieces Annika, Caitlin, Cambria, Maya and grand-nephew Andrew. She is also survived by many extended family members and close friends.

The family wishes to thank all of those who provided Karen care and compassion through calls, cards, visits, and support during the last 19 months, and more particularly to the staff and volunteers at The Community Hospice of Saratoga, Gateway House of Peace, and her dear friends who tirelessly assisted in providing Karen care in the past several weeks.

Services for family and friends have been arranged with Flynn Brothers Funeral Home located at 13 Gates Avenue Extension, Schuylerville, NY to be held on Saturday, July 14, 2018, beginning at 11 AM. Memorial contributions can be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga or Gateway House of Peace. Internment will be made privately at the convenience of the family.