Karen Downey

Karen Pauline Downey (Fiedler,) 80, of Columbus passed away comfortably on the morning of Sunday, June 1, 2025.

Karen is survived by her brother Louis Fielder; three children David Downey (Kirsten), Chris Downey, and Debbie Beers (Mark); and five grandchildren Ashley, Ethan, Holly, Brooke, and Zachary. She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Walter, and parents Wallace and Caroline Fiedler.

Karen was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts and attended Andover High School. She graduated with a nursing degree from Boston Children's Hospital and met her husband while serving as a nurse in the Air Force in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. They wed on September 14, 1968 and moved back to Columbus, Walter’s hometown, where they raised their three children. Karen did some work in nursing homes, but she spent the bulk of her career as the school nurse at The Wellington School where she was famous for her ice packs and prescription strength crackers. After her retirement from Wellington, she taught part time at Columbus State in their Nurse Aide program.

Karen loved spending summers fishing on the Pickerel River in Ontario and religiously chasing the elusive musky every evening after dinner. Even more, though, was her love of Disney World. She and Walt went as often as they could with whoever wanted to tag along. When not on vacation, you could find her crocheting, reading, or watching ESPN. Her love for the Bluejackets and, most of all, the Buckeyes was second to none.

The biggest thing that Karen instilled in her kids, besides knowing all the lyrics to “Cats” the musical, was that you show up for anything and everything you can to support friends and family. She never missed a school event of her children and adored watching her grandchildren in all of their sports, concerts, theatre productions, and more and did so for as long as she was physically able. This legacy will be passed on for generations.

The last year was tough on Karen's health but her children find comfort knowing she is no longer in pain and is reunited with Walter and all her loved ones that came before.

Friends may call at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 1899 McCoy Rd., Thursday, June 12 from 9:30am-10:30am, immediately followed by a Funeral Mass and a luncheon. 

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