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Karen D. Palmatier
Born: 12/24/1950
Died: 4/2/2024
Age: 73
Community: Flint, MI
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PALMATIER, Karen D. – Of Flint, age 73, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
A Funeral Service will be held at 12:00pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint, with Pastor Steve Wood officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00am until the time of service. An entombment at Flint Memorial Park will follow.
Karen was born in Downey, California on December 24, 1950, the daughter of the late Ernest Melvin and Ruth (Nance) Sellman. On May 27, 1977, she married James "Jim" Palmatier and he preceded her in death on August 30, 2006.
Karen had a very outgoing personality. In her younger years, she was a hairstylist. She loved trying new styles on her mom and sister. When it was time to relax she had several bunny's she would tell stories about decades later. One of her favorites was "Bugs" whom she trained to follow her around without a leash. If she was feeling a bit more adventurous she enjoyed cruising on her Harley.
Karen and Jim were very selfless and caring people. They were like a second Mom and Dad for many of the kids in the neighborhood. The kids were always welcome to come over for dinner, take a trip to Cedar Point, go fishing and swimming at the beach or even watch a game at Tiger Stadium. Karen enjoyed volunteering up at the school where all the kids thought she was "grandma" because she was blessed with her long beautiful silver hair at a young age. She would help out in the school cafeteria and chaperoned many of the school field trips like the sloan museum, pumpkin patch and she even walked the kids from school up to the ice cream shop. Karen "Mom" always had a place in her heart for some of those special kids who made her life more enjoyable. Doug, Tammy, Brian, Krystal, David, Shawn and Aaron please know you were never forgotten, and Mom and Dad loved you all.
She was a proud Californian (She wasn't a fan of Michigan winters) and loved traveling or just being outdoors. Palm Springs was one of her favorite places to visit in which she visited many times. Some of her fondest memories were hiking though Tahquitz Canyon up to the waterfall with her son Michael, cruising with her daughter Cristal through So-Cal in a convertible and taking a trip up the Palm Springs Ariel Tram to grab a bite to each with her husband Jim. She was fascinated with the unique plants and terrain in Joshua Tree National Park and made it a point to visit every trip. When it got dark, she loved to walk through the street fair. There was this very talented artist who would sit on a bucket and paint beautiful pictures with spray cans, Karen would stand there watching in awe and she just had to own several of those pieces.
Karen was a diehard Disney kid at heart. She visited countless times thought her life even when she could only go by herself. One of favorite trips was when she took her grand babies to Animal Kingdom and a giant giraffe poked his head into their room over their balcony. She was always excited at what the next adventure might bring. One of her favorite rides was the Indiana Jones cart ride, one visit with her son they rode it over and over. She really loved the different themed shows you could attend, of course the Indiana Jones show was one of her favorites. When it got dark out, she just loved the parades and fireworks. She thought everything at Disney was just so magical.
When back at home, she had a passion for gardening. She received so much joy seeing the fruits of her labor when her yard was in full bloom of flowers. She was also an animal lover, especially her beloved dogs, Baby and Toodles (rest in peace). She really enjoyed and loved the birdies, especially the chickadees and cardinals who would frequent her many water fountains. She spent countless days with Michael and Brayden just watching "her" birds. She loved just sitting back in her lawn chair under an umbrella on a sunny day watching the birds play in the bird bath, or the hummingbirds buzzing around her head with trumpet vines mere inches behind her. She just loved "her" little wrens who would come back and nest every year. She would play "mom" to the baby wrens and watched over them as they made their steps into the brave new world. Last year one of the babies had some trouble and Karen would follow him all over the yard until he finally mustered up enough courage to fly to a nearby bush. She also has one very special Cardinal who visits every day and will peck at the window next to her chair, she liked to think this might be Jim saying hello (he was here again today).
Karen was very meticulous and took so much pride in everything that she did. Those who knew here know all too well how she made sure she had her hair, makeup and clothes just right before she would go out. The nurses would always comment on how nice she looked. It was hard and she might have needed some help, but she made sure she looked good. Not only did she have a good eye for makeup and fashion, she was also very artistic and crafty. She made jewelry, feather art and had a wonderful eye for decorating and interior design. She enjoyed running a craft table up in Welston, MI flea market every weekend for a couple of summers. She had tables full of her wonderful creations. Jim and Michael made several wood crafts like baskets and animals that Karen would decorate and sell at her table. Saturday nights when the flea market closed, she enjoyed the auctions that Butch and Anita ran. It was a really fun time in her, Jim, and Michael’s life that she missed very much when the flea market closed. She was honored to have had the opportunity to make a wedding bouquet for Cristal and Jennie in which they still own and cherish to this day.
Mom really loved Christmas. She would decorate the entire house inside and out. She would make tables full of cookies for the friends and family. Some of the earlier times her son loved to play in the boxes while mom decorated the tree. During her last Christmas she still mustered up enough strength to put some decorations on the tree. When she couldn't decorate the house herself, she was more than willing to tell her son which decorations go exactly where she wanted them.
Mom was so full of life; it would take a book to list all the things that she accomplished in her short time on this earth. It’s the little things she did that will be missed the most. Like opening the door with a big smile as you come home, proudly displaying the "critters" her son made all over the house, having a small toy on your bed when you come home from the dentist, buying a pizza maker so her son could have his favorite food during COVID, and all the "mom" things she would do to try and make sure you stay healthy. She would make a big deal out of her kids accomplishments and make them feel so very special, no matter how small or even if they didn’t win. So much more could be said, but hopefully enough was said for those who weren’t close to know just how wonderful a mom and person she was. She will never be forgotten.
Mom was very appreciative of all those who chose to include her in their lives. There are too many to list. She would always say Bob was like her guardian angel as he would look out for her family, especially when things were tough. She was just so grateful and know you are more than a friend, you are family.
She fought a long hard battle with breast cancer for nearly a decade, but she never lost her faith. Despite the disease ravishing her body she continued to find ways to enjoy life. She was amazing in every way, in everything that did. She will be missed more than any words could ever express. A priceless treasure has been lost with her passing. Let's pray she found her way back to Jim and is finally at peace.
Surviving are son, Michael Palmatier;
Daughter, Cristal Palmatier Carpentier;
Grandsons, Matthew and Brayden;
Nephew and nieces, Todd, Jennie (Tony), Laura (Donald) and Sara (Jonathan);
And great-Nieces and nephew, Autumn, Brandon, Allison and Jessica.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com
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| Visitation |
| Date: |
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4/9/2024 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
| A Funeral Service will be held at 12:00pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint, with Pastor Steve Wood officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00am until the time of service. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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4/9/2024 |
| Time: |
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12:00 PM |
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| Location: |
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Swartz Funeral Home & Cremation Center
1225 West Hill Road
Flint, MI 48507Get a Map to this location...
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