Karen Rhodes Clarke, obituary

Wed, 01/25/2023 - 12:45pm

THOMASTON — Karen Rhodes Clarke, 77, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 16, 2023 at the Sussman House in Rockport, Maine with her loving family by her side. Karen was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 30, 1945 as the first of three daughters to Nan (Kuperberg) Rhodes and Hilliard Rhodes.

Karen grew up in Westwood, Massachusetts and was educated at Westwood Public Schools, Beaver Country Day School and Boston University. She lived and worked in Cambridge, Massachusettsfor several years until moving to Wellesley, Massachusetts in 1989 with her second husband and blended family of six children where she delighted in raising a family, tending her garden, doing volunteer work at Boston Children’s Hospital and sharing time her many friends in the metro Boston area.

With the children grown, she moved to Thomaston, Maine in 2001 where she enjoyed remodeling an 1840s Cape, growing her even bigger garden and spending time with her many new friends in the mid-coast Maine area. She was a member of the Thomaston Historical Society, Thomaston Garden Club and  the Board of Trustees of the Thomaston Public Library.

Karen was a put together lady who relished reading, traveling the world, cooking, gardening and a having good discussion on most any topic. She was a spiritual person who enjoyed interacting with many different belief groups as well as, in her later years, being a Shaman who focused on energy work.

She leaves behind: her loving husband, Dan Clarke of Thomaston, Maine; her sisters Paula Rhodes of Waltham, Massachusetts and Martha Rhodes of New York, New York; her children by her first marriage, Jennifer (Tarter) Michienzie of Walpole, Massachusetts and Jonathan Tarter of Williamsburg, Virginia; her stepchildren Matthew Clarke of Sherborn, Massachusetts, Hannah Clarke of Providence, Rhode Island, Lianna Clarke of Alexandria, Virginia, and Genevieve Clarke of Arlington, Virginia; and her grandchildren, to whom she was “Mimi,” PJ Michienzie of Walpole, Massachusetts and Violet, Ellie and Noah Tarter of Williamsburg, Virginia.

A Memorial Service will be held at Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 78 Main Street, Thomaston ME on February 4, at 2 p.m. Zoom attendance is available by contacting the family or Hall’s of Thomaston. To extend online condolences visit her Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.

The family has requested that donations in Karen's name be made to: Friends of the Thomaston Public Library, 60 Main Street, Thomaston, ME 04861.