Karen Mary Mulvey

Karen Mary Mulvey, age 66, passed away on July 27, 2024, at her home in West Chester, PA. Born on September 2, 1957, in Catskill, NY, Karen was the cherished daughter of Robert and Barbara Mulvey, both of whom predeceased her. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Craig Rothfuss.

Karen is survived by her loving family: her sister Mary and husband Kurtz Smith of West Chester; her sister Trish and husband Gerry Brandon of Newtown Square; her sister Colleen and husband Mark Dunlap of Mineral, VA; her brother James Mulvey of Collegeville; and her brother Tom Mulvey and his wife Joanne of Pottstown. She was also a dear aunt to 16 nieces and 16 nephews, many of whom she taught to sew.

A proud graduate of West Chester East High School (1975) and Neumann University (BS in Nursing, 1979), Karen dedicated her career to nursing and hospital administration. Her commitment to patient advocacy and passion for medicine marked her professional life. She furthered her education with an MBA in Marketing from Rutgers University (1988) and earned a Conflict Management Certificate as a Certified Mediator.

Karen's journey took her to NJ and TX before she returned to her roots in West Chester. There, she met and married Craig Rothfuss, sharing a deep love and a joyful life together in Hershey’s Mill, West Chester, PA. Craig's passing on November 16, 2022, was a profound loss for Karen.

Beyond her professional achievements, Karen was a passionate world traveler who recently embraced adventures in Japan and Thailand, even while managing physical challenges and battling depression. Her love for gardening was evident in her extensive knowledge of plants and particularly flowers. She had a love for handwritten notes and cards which she often made herself and mailed to friends and family daily. Karen was actively involved in various community committees, contributing to causes such as poetry, grieving, caregiving, and guest speakers. Known for her empathetic listening and compassionate nature, her friends and family will remember her as a generous, vibrant and thoughtful spirit who consistently brought joy into their lives.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday,  August 24, at 1:00 p.m. at the Hershey's Mill Community Center, 25 Hersheys Drive, West Chester, PA 19382. Visitation will be from 12:30-1:00, and will continue during a reception following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Karen's memory to a mental health organization of your choice, to honor her life and the challenges she faced.

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