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February 3, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A 10 AM Funeral Service will be held Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne.
Interment will be in the Preakness Reformed Church Cemetery in Wayne.
Karen C. Brink (nee Gnatiuk) age 56 of Wayne died peacefully on Sunday, February 3, 2013.
She was born in Passaic and raised in Garfield. She graduated Garfield High School with the Class of 1974, then entered secretarial school. After working as a secretary, she entered the US Army and became an Operating Room Technician.
Karen met David Brink at a United States Army reception in Fair Lawn. Both had enlisted in the Army and were in a waiting period before their initial assignments. They kept in touch with letters over the years as they were stationed far apart. They were re-united when they were stationed close together in Texas. Their letter relationship turned into love and David proposed marriage at a Texas Military Base. Karen accepted and they were married on June 30, 1979 at Our Lady of Sorrows RC Church in Garfield New Jersey. They honeymooned at the Jersey Shore and have enjoyed thirty-four years of a loving and devoted marriage.
Karen graduated from William Paterson University in Wayne as a Registered Nurse with the Class of 1983.
She worked at the Hackensack University Medical Center, as a Nurse Auditor for the IRP Corporation, and as a School Nurse for Paramus Catholic High School, the Wayne Board of Education, and most recently the Passaic Board of Education.
Karen was a truly selfless person. She volunteered her time at the Wayne Animal Shelter, Passaic Valley Hospice, Home Care Options, and the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne. She will be remembered as an energetic, multi-tasker, who was always helping others. She was caring, giving, compassionate and had Energizer Bunny stamina. Even when receiving chemo-therapy she got in the car and went to the Wayne Animal Shelter to help socialize animals. Karen’s caring, loving heart was comforting those animals during her most difficult time.
Karen was a dedicated member of the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne where she also volunteered her time. She dedicated herself to the church and its various outreach ministries such as visits to the North Jersey Developmental Center, the annual Crop Walk, and the annual garage sale at the church to benefit the Dawn Treader Christian School in Paterson. Even just recently she volunteered to help the Reformed Church at the Consistory Level – her heart was there but her illness kept her from completing that mission.
She was the loving wife of David Brink; devoted mother of Lauren Brink and Kristen Brink both of Wayne; loved sister of Alice Gnatiuk and her husband George of Garfield.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Passaic Valley Hospice, 783 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07511 would be appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A 10 AM Funeral Service will be held Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne.
Interment will be in the Preakness Reformed Church Cemetery in Wayne.
February 3, 2013
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
A 10 AM Funeral Service will be held Thursday, February 7, 2013 at the Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne.
Interment will be in the Preakness Reformed Church Cemetery in Wayne.
Karen C. Brink (nee Gnatiuk) age 56 of Wayne died peacefully on Sunday, February 3, 2013.
She was born in Passaic and raised in Garfield. She graduated Garfield High School with the Class of 1974, then entered secretarial school. After working as a secretary, she entered the US Army and became an Operating Room Technician.
Karen met David Brink at a United States Army reception in Fair Lawn. Both had enlisted in the Army and were in a waiting period before their initial assignments. They kept in touch with letters over the years as they were stationed far apart. They were re-united when they were stationed close together in Texas. Their letter relationship turned into love and David proposed marriage at a Texas Military Base. Karen accepted and they were married on June 30, 1979 at Our Lady of Sorrows RC Church in Garfield New Jersey. They honeymooned at the Jersey Shore and have enjoyed thirty-four years of a loving and devoted marriage.
Karen graduated from William Paterson University in Wayne as a Registered Nurse with the Class of 1983.
She worked at the Hackensack University Medical Center, as a Nurse Auditor for the IRP Corporation, and as a School Nurse for Paramus Catholic High School, the Wayne Board of Education, and most recently the Passaic Board of Education.
Karen was a truly selfless person. She volunteered her time at the Wayne Animal Shelter, Passaic Valley Hospice, Home Care Options, and the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne. She will be remembered as an energetic, multi-tasker, who was always helping others. She was caring, giving, compassionate and had Energizer Bunny stamina. Even when receiving chemo-therapy she got in the car and went to the Wayne Animal Shelter to help socialize animals. Karen’s caring, loving heart was comforting those animals during her most difficult time.
Karen was a dedicated member of the Preakness Reformed Church in Wayne where she also volunteered her time. She dedicated herself to the church and its various outreach ministries such as visits to the North Jersey Developmental Center, the annual Crop Walk, and the annual garage sale at the church to benefit the Dawn Treader Christian School in Paterson. Even just recently she volunteered to help the Reformed Church at the Consistory Level – her heart was there but her illness kept her from completing that mission.
She was the loving wife of David Brink; devoted mother of Lauren Brink and Kristen Brink both of Wayne; loved sister of Alice Gnatiuk and her husband George of Garfield.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Passaic Valley Hospice, 783 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07511 would be appreciated.
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