Obituary of Karen Ann Sutcliffe

1953-2022 Born in Montreal, the only child of Reginald and Ivy (nee Barwell). Passed away peacefully on February 11, 2022 at 68 years of age. Karen joined the Canadian Armed Forces in October 1971 after High School graduation. She first served with The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada, becoming one of Canada’s First Female Infantryman (031). Karen’s memories of her military life are recorded at the Canadian War Museum Oral History Project. She went on to graduate from Loyalist College, Belleville in Nursing 1976, and in Social Work 1986. Both courses awarded her the Dean’s List Award for academic excellence. Hired as an Adjudicator by WSIB Ontario, Karen worked in the Ottawa Regional Offices. Karen retired in 2018 in Windsor where she had been living since 2009. Over her lifetime, Karen was a Town Councillor, School Board Trustee, Nurse, Social Worker, Genealogist and Veteran. She belonged to Ambassador Branch 143 Royal Canadian Legion. Karen is survived by her sons James Sutcliffe (b.1977), and Geoffrey Piche (b.1979), her foster daughter Tanya Laurin and her granddaughters Natasha and Lacey Laurin. She is predeceased by the love of her life, her partner, Richard Hummell. Cremation has taken place and arrangements were entrusted to the Cremation Society of Windsor & Essex County, 3260 Dougall Ave., Windsor, ON, (519)969-5841. Karen’s cremated remains will be buried at the National Military Cemetery, Ottawa.