Karen Moore

MOORE, Karen Elizabeth Aileen (Booth) - With great sadness, we announce the passing of Karen, at home surrounded in love with her family by her side. Karen left us following a brief but very brave battle with cancer.

Left to grieve are her husband of 49 years, Paul, her daughters Kelly Miles (Phil), Tracey McCartney (Mark), and Megan Moore (Dan), and cherished grandchildren Riley and Noah, Morgan and Hayden, Branden and Evan. Karen was the dear sister to Myrna Wood, Jon Booth, Charles Booth, Cynthia Sherman, and Heather Carr. Predeceased by her parents Doris Booth (Leeder) and Frank Booth.

Karen will be missed by a large circle of friends and colleagues, and her very large, but close extended family.

Karen was an avid athlete in her day. As captain of the high school volleyball and basketball teams she demonstrated her love of sport and leadership skills early. Karen went on to continue to be active playing softball on the Albion women’s team into her 40’s, until unfortunately she broke her ankle stealing second base. She was small but mighty, anyone who ever underestimated her on the baseball diamond or in life, found that out quickly!

Karen was already a mother of three when she went back to school to become a Registered Nurse, graduating in 1989 and continuing her career for over 30 years at SMMH. She worked in many areas of the hospital as a float nurse and later in ICU & Emergency. Later in her career she took on a leadership role as a Nurse Manager and demonstrated that she was a talented leader who was firm but always fair. Karen’s work ethic, pride and mastery of her profession made her an inspiration and mentor to many in the healthcare field. She loved nursing so much that she continued working well after her initial retirement in 2011, finally “officially” retiring in 2019 after several false starts.

Karen loved travel, adventure, and learning. During her career, Karen traveled to many parts of the world while working as a nurse aboard many cruise ships and working temporary traveling nursing contracts in Hanover, Pennsylvania, in a burn unit in Charlottesville, Virginia and most recently in 2013 in Dallas, Texas. She also worked as the Camp Nurse for several summers at Camp Ak-O-Mak and Camp Big Canoe.

She was busy, active, social, and interested in many things. In recent years Karen enjoyed both the social and the community service aspects of her time spent as a member of the Muskoka Country Dancers with the Ladies Shrine club.

A great cook of the tastiest dishes… known for her amazing lasagna, potato salad, deviled eggs, and THE BEST butter tarts. Karen was a wonderful host, and her home has always been a hub for our family gatherings - she was quiet about it but couldn’t hide her warmth - happily in her element making sure everyone else was having a good time. Not to mention very well-fed. Many will not soon forget her amazing Canada Day Parties with fun festivities (Muskoka Moore Triathlon) she found so much joy in bringing people together and having fun.

Lucky for them, and for her, Karen was a regular presence in the lives of her grandchildren. Whether it was taking them skiing, swimming in the river, kayaking, getting them into her summer camp, sharing some finer sewing techniques, coaching them through her best recipes, picking them up from school, or a bit of well-earned discipline (to their amusement). She had ways of connecting with each of them in a special way and being what they needed in different times or different ways.

Karen was most happy sitting in a Muskoka chair on the dock, or treading water with ease while her guests and grandkids enjoyed the water toys, food, sunshine, and each other.

Karen faced her final few months with incredible strength and grace. She spent her days at home in the care and company of her husband, children, and grandchildren, enjoying her favourite things - family, friends, cooking and baking, her dog, Penny, and her home on the Muskoka River. She was able to hear and read heartfelt tributes, and memories and expressions of gratitude from hundreds of past colleagues and say meaningful goodbyes to so many loved ones. Each brought her such comfort and peace, she was so touched.

While she may have been short in stature, she was a pillar among her family and friends, and she leaves a hole. She will be missed by so many, but we will honour her, we will stay strong, and we will celebrate her in many ways for the rest of our lives. We will raise our glasses to her, we will do our best with her recipes, and we will remember and cherish our memories of a life well-lived.

A special thank you to all the staff at SMMH and the palliative care network for the extraordinary care and compassion they provided to her and our family in her final days. Forever a teacher, she enjoyed gently giving tips and instructions to all the nurses who came to see her.

In memory, donations may be made to the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Foundation, Shriners Hospital for Children - Canada, Community Living – South Muskoka, Canadian Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice, may be arranged through Reynolds Funeral Home. Messages of condolence and memories may be shared at www.reynoldsfuneral.com.

At a later date, when we can gather in a way Karen would have enjoyed, we will celebrate her life together.