Obituary of Karen Ann Grimm

Karen Ann Grimm, age 72, beloved wife of Richard John Grimm, Jr. of Beacon Falls and devoted mother to Kristen Ahern and Jessica Grimm, passed away on October 30, 2023. Born on Long Island, N.Y. on August 18, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Louis X. and Eileen E. Klein Pelkofsky.  Karen graduated from St. Joseph’s High School (NY). She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Misericordia University of Dallas, PA.   

Karen grew up on a potato farm on Long Island, one of eight children. As one of the oldest, she often took care of her younger siblings, and her mother taught her to cook and sew. Home Economics was a natural fit for Karen, and after college she began her teaching career at Bristol High School in Connecticut. After she and Rich were married in 1976, they moved to Essex, VT, where she continued teaching until becoming a mother to Kristen and Jessica. Her daughters and her family were her world and she was an extremely devoted mother. She was never one to rest, and even while raising two daughters built a home seamstress business.

Once the girls were older and in school, Karen pivoted careers, becoming a sales representative and starting her own business, Vermont Variations where she represented Vermont-made products and gifts. She excelled in sales, as she was outgoing and could talk to anyone. She retired in 2016 and together with Rich, moved to Connecticut, settling in Beacon Falls, to be close to her family. In retirement, Karen again never sat still and kept busy joining pinochle, Mahjong, pickle ball, book club and knitting and crocheting groups. She loved to travel and some of her favorite memories were annual trips to the family beach house in Ocean City and Mexico and vacations with her husband, daughters, sisters and friends. An avid and lifelong reader, she was a fixture at the Beacon Falls Library.

Becoming a grandmother to Maddie, born in 2019, was one of her greatest joys. She delighted in being a Nana. In her own words it was “Truly a dream come true. Reality was better than the dream!” 

In addition to her husband of 47 years, she is survived by her loving daughters, Kristen (Brian) Ahern of Farmington, CT and Jessica (Jesse Luberoff) Grimm of Colchester, Vermont; her cherished granddaughter  Madeline Grimm Ahern; sister Mary Ellen Ingrao, Eileen (Jimmy) Walsh and Rosemary (Ray) Scaravaglione all of Long Island, NY; brothers, Gerard (Sue/Thalia Stavrides) Pelkofsky, Ronald Pelkofsky, both of Long Island, and Richard (Renna) Pelkofsky of Pennsylvania; a sister-in-law, Beth Pelkofsky of New Jersey; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was predeceased by her brother, Gary Pelkofsky.

Family and friends may call at Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia, CT, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. A Catholic Mass will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Beacon Falls Public Library, Town Hall Building, 2nd Floor, 10 Maple Avenue, Beacon Falls, CT 06403 or Venmo @Friendsof-BeaconFallsPublicLibrary

Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.