Obituary of Karen L. Thayer

Karen L. Thayer, 82, of 128 Buffalo St., passed away Monday, March 9, 2020 at Lutheran. She was born April 11, 1937 in Jamestown and was a daughter of the late Eugene and Marie Hannon Thayer. She was a 1955 graduate of Jamestown High School and earned her Bachelor's degree at Buffalo's Deaconess School of Nursing in 1958. Following graduation as a registered nurse, Karen worked in early years for the Red Cross, Roswell Park and Children's Hospital in Buffalo. After raising her family, she was a nurse at the Resource Center in Jamestown from 1982 until her retirement in 2008. She was one of the brave nurses that helped unionize the former Fenton Park Nursing Home in Jamestown and also proud of having served on the New York State Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission to close the Willowbrook State School in Staten Island, NY. Karen was an avid reader, knitter and animal lover. Surviving are a daughter, Jennifer (Paul) Liuzzo of Bemus Point, NY and two sons, John A. Grabowski of Stanwood, WA and Christopher (Janice) Grabowski of Seattle, WA; five grandchildren: Anna Liuzzo of Bemus Point, Ethan and Eamon Grabowski of Olympia, WA and Michiko and Akira "AJ" Yee, both of Seattle; a sister, Candyce (Francis) Roselli of Kenmore, NY; two nephews, Paris (Lisa) and Adrian (Sara) Roselli, both of Buffalo; as well as her former daughter-in-law, Annamary Fitzgerald of Olympia and her beloved dog, Rags. In addition to her parents, Karen was preceded in death by her former husband, Walter Grabowski. Karen's family wishes to thank the staffs of Lutheran Rehabilitation, Chautauqua Hospice and UPMC Chautauqua for their excellent care. A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced by the Lind Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue, 7540 N. Gale St., Westfield, NY 14787; or Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care, 20 W. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.