Karen Ann Schommer

Our beloved daughter, sister and aunt, Karen Schommer, left this world on December 14, 2020, in North Carolina where she lived for the last nine years after fighting a courageous battle of cancer.

Karen was born on March 1, 1964 in Devils Lake, North Dakota to Gilbert and Darlene Schommer. She graduated from Fordville High School and Moorhead State College with a degree in social work.

Karen always had a strong desire to connect with and help the vulnerable and those in need. This constant passion to make life better for others was realized in her professional work, her volunteer activity and simply through her presence.

Karen was a social worker in home and community-based health programs for over 30 years, including being a founding owner and operator of a residential home care business. Karen had a special love for seniors that also included volunteer and advocacy work for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Karen’s deep interest in people and how they lived extended well beyond her own environment. She loved traveling the world and experiencing different cultures, including hands on experiences with Habitat for Humanity in other countries. For Karen, meaningful experiences and lasting connections with people were far more important than material goods.

Faith was essential to Karen’s worldview. One of her favorite songs in life and at the end was “Lord, I Need You”.  To those closest to her, the hymn “Well Done” evokes how Karen lived her life, through its joys and its pain, and how God finally called her home to peace and rest after a lifetime of giving.

Karen was loving and humorous and always planned the fun activities. She will be missed dearly.

Karen is survived by her mother, Darlene Schommer, Grand Forks, ND; 3 brothers: Gary (Rebecca), McIntosh, MN; Doug, Fargo, ND; Wayne, Fargo, ND; 2 sisters: Debra (Kent) Whaley, Fordville, ND; Joanne (Shawn) Freije, Duluth, MN; 10 nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Gilbert Schommer.

The Bakke-Casement Funeral Home of Fordville is assisting the family with funeral arrangements to which a Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Forks.  Face masks and social distancing are recommended.

The Mass will be live streamed on the Holy Family Catholic Church website or the Church's facebook page.

The Rite of Christian Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Fordville, ND.

The family requests memorials to Altru Cancer Center in Grand Forks.