Karen Ellen (Roberts) Santella passed away on February 21, 2022 at the age of 75.
The daughter of the late David Roberts and Elsie Goudreau Roberts, Karen was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, lived most of her life in Malden, Massachusetts and most recently in Stoneham, Massachusetts.
Karen graduated from Central Connecticut State University and received a Masters Degree in Social Work from Fordham University. She worked at the former Youville Hospital in Cambridge with chronic and terminal patients; for Catholic Charities finding adoptive couples; and for Lutheran Social Services finding families to foster or adopt unaccompanied refugee minors. Karen was an active member of the Paulist Center Community in Boston, Massachusetts for more than four decades. She campaigned regularly for national, state and local candidates and attended many demonstrations including the 2017 Women’s March. Her delight was to sing with the Mystic Chorale which she did for over a decade.
Karen is survived by her husband Edward Santella of Stoneham, Massachusetts; her sons Michael Santella of Washington, D.C. and Daniel Santella of Hong Kong; their respective spouses Amanda Santella and Elizabeth Donohoe; and four grandchildren: Emerson, Marlena, Natalie and Wesley; her brother David Roberts of Las Cruces, New Mexico and her sister, Maureen Roberts of Kent, Washington.
Donations in her memory may be made to Holt International of Eugene, Oregon. A memorial service will be held during the summer.