Karen Podgurski Nye

Karen (Podgurski) Nye, of Raymond, Maine, passed away peacefully at home at age 78 on January 22 following an extended illness.

Karen was born December 11, 1943 in Norwood, Massachusetts, to her father Florence and her mother Florence G. Podgurski. Her father was the first child in the family to be born in America to parents who immigrated from Poland.  She was especially proud of her Native American heritage on her mother's side.

Karen met George, her beloved husband of 55 years, in Westwood, MA where they worked at the same donut shop. They married soon thereafter, moving to Maine in 1974. Karen started and ran a successful driving school where together they taught countless Mainers to drive during the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, Karen enjoyed creative pursuits, including making Raggedy Ann dolls for generations of children in the family, expertly reupholstering furniture, horticulture, and cooking. In their later years, George and Karen enjoyed long cross-country driving adventures, traveling as far afield as Northern Newfoundland and Southern California.

Karen is predeceased by her parents, brothers Richard and Ronald, and sister Shirley. She is mourned by her husband, George Nye; daughter Faith and husband Francis Brautigam, granddaughter Amber and husband Josh Zelinski, great-granddaughter America; daughter April and husband Shane Lemmings, grandchildren Tyler Lemmings and partner Ashley and daughter Lily, and Lacey Oster and husband Corey, great-grandchildren Tucker, Hadley, and Grace; son Scott Nye and wife Julie; son Richard Nye and wife Autumn, and granddaughter Ellie; her extended family, and friends.

The Celebration of Life for Karen Nye will be held at the Windham Baptist Church, 974 River Road, Windham, Maine at 2 pm on Sunday, January 30. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.wilsonfhllc.com.

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