Karen Cunion
Age 81, of Aurora, Ohio, passed away on December 4, 2024. Karen was born on February 28, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas, to James and Bernice Crocker.
As the daughter of an airman, Karen lived in various places across the United States during her childhood. She graduated from high school in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1960, but she always considered Texas to be her home. She went on to attend Mississippi State College for Women, where she graduated with a degree in mathematics so she could begin a teaching career.
In September 1964, Karen met the love of her life, Bill. Their romance was swift—engaged by October and married by December. Together, they built a loving family, which included many foster children over the years, beginning with Jim Farrabee, who is forever a son to them.  In 1970, Karen and Bill welcomed their first biological child, William II, and were blessed with a daughter, Robyn, in 1976. Their home was always filled with love, laughter, and the joy of raising both biological and foster children, especially Barb and Shirley Vanest and Lesley Arnett.  She also embraced the families of her husband's children, Reyna Hardecki and Aurora Northrup, as her own.
Karen was a dedicated math teacher at Jackson High School for many years before suffering a stroke in 1984. Although her health made it impossible to continue teaching, she embraced a new challenge and became an Avon Lady, where she enjoyed meeting new people, visiting her customers and winning numerous awards for sales and service.   She was also very active in the community, a lifetime member of the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi sorority. And if you ever set foot in the Massillon Baptist Temple, you saw her; for decades she worked in the Sunday School nursery and sang in the church choir.  Her singing didn't stop in the church.  She dedicated over 20 years to a nursing home ministry where she shared her love of God by singing with the Echoes of Love.
After living in the same home in Massillon, Ohio, for 48 years, Karen and Bill moved to a retirement community in Canal Fulton in 2021. They loved their time there, with Karen calling it "the best year of her life." However, as their medical needs increased, they moved to an assisted living and skilled nursing facility in Aurora. Karen quickly became a beloved fixture in the facility, often found calling Bingo or teaching others how to play Mexican Train Dominoes, which became her favorite pastime in her later years.
Karen's love for travel was a defining part of her life, and she especially loved cruising. She went on many cruises with her daughter and grandsons, and she told others that the memories she created on those trips were among the highlights of her life. Karen didn't just cruise—she embarked on daring adventures both on and off the ship. From indoor skydiving on board to zip lining over the ocean in Honduras, she embraced every opportunity for excitement with enthusiasm and a fearless spirit.
Karen had a unique gift for making everyone feel important. Her kindness radiated from her, and she could brighten any room she entered. She never met a stranger, easily striking up conversations with anyone, anywhere. Whether in a grocery store or on a cruise ship, Karen made it a point to connect with people and ensure they felt seen and valued. She had a remarkable ability to empathize with others, always ready to offer a fresh perspective, share a laugh, or sometimes just be there to cry it out with you. If you were hurting, Karen was the person you could turn to for comfort. Her warmth and genuine care for others left an enduring mark on everyone who knew her.
And no story of her life would be complete without mentioning her love of country. If you somehow missed the red, white, and blue shoes, you might have noticed the outgoing message on her voice mail, which always closed with, "May God Bless America."
Karen is survived by her children, James (Toy) Farrabee, William (Jesse) Cunion, and Robyn (Scott) Lori; by her grandchildren, Megan Farrabee (Nick Nonno), Will, Jes, and Genevieve Cunion, and Sam and Zak Lori; and two great-grandchildren, Leia and Reggie Nonno.
Karen was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Cunion; her parents, James and Bernice Crocker; her sister, Jean Baker; her brother, James "Tom" Crocker; and her daughter-in-law, Kathryn Cunion.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 from 5 to 7 P.M. at Heitger Funeral Home in Jackson Township.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 11:00 AM. at the funeral home.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Team Red, White, and Blue in Karen's memory at https://teamrwb.org.

Please leave condolences here on our tribute wall.

Heitger Funeral Home - Jackson Chapel   330-830-0148