Karen Boyken, beloved daughter, mother and grandmother, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Brewster, MA on June 5, 2023. Born on January 20, 1947 in Winthrop, Karen Smith was the oldest of seven children born to Elliott and Florence Smith. She attended Winthrop High School.
Karen had her first child, James, at age 16 and had her son Eric 2 years later. Despite her young age, being a good mother became the single most important focus of her life. She spent nearly 20 years in Florida raising Jimmy and Eric. In 1980, shortly after her daughter, Stephanie, was born, Karen decided to return to Winthrop to be closer to family and to the Perkins School for the Blind, which was an incredible resource for her and for Jimmy for years to come.
Karen was determined and selfless – though she was a single mother most of her life, she made sure her children had every opportunity possible, from a world-class education at Perkins to figure skating lessons to a loving ear to listen and help sort out all of your problems. She worked for years as a Nurse’s Aide at the Governor Winthrop Nursing Home and then returned to school while working full time, receiving her nursing degree from Soldier’s Home School of Nursing. Karen went on to work as a Nurse at Woodlawn Nursing Home and Partners Rehab in the North End, making wonderful lifelong friends along the way.
Karen retired to Cape Cod in 2020. While the pandemic kept her from developing a close-knit community there like the one she had in Winthrop, she found a lot of peace and joy in Brewster’s salty air.
As much as Karen loved being a mother, she cherished being a grandmother even more. Though she didn’t get to see all of her grandchildren – Nicole, Damian, Raven and Emmett - frequently, she adored them all. In recent years, she found special joy in playing trains with Emmett and spoiling him with sweets.
Karen is survived by her children, James Reynolds of Chelsea, MA, Eric Reynolds of Georgia, and Stephanie Sellers and her husband, Brian Sellers, of Brooklyn, NY; four grandchildren, Nicole Reynolds of MA, Damian Reynolds of FL, Raven Reynolds of FL, and Emmett Sellers of Brooklyn; five great-grandchildren; brothers Elliott Smith and Richard Smith; and many nieces, nephews and friends. She is predeceased by her brothers Alan Smith and Stephen Smith and sisters Deborah Smith and Patricia Smith.
Visiting hours will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home 210 Winthrop St. Winthrop, on Saturday, June 17, from 9-11AM, followed by a short memorial service in the funeral home beginning at 11AM. Relatives and friends are invited.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Perkins School for the Blind or a charity of your choice.