Karen Kemp

Karen Kemp, 70, originally from Brooklyn, New York, passed away on Monday, May 18, 2020 in Bluffton, South Carolina.  She died at home with her beloved husband of 51 years, Steve Kemp.

She enjoyed a successful career for 37 years with Johnson & Johnson until she retired in 2005.  Karen achieved the level of executive assistant to Johnson & Johnson’s Executive Committee. She performed with the highest skill, attention to “perfection”, organization, and her interactive abilities made Karen an outstanding member of the J&J family.

Karen was remarkable in giving of herself.  She took gentle care of the family and friends who were sick and dying.  Although she worked a full-time job, she would travel to anyone in need and spend her weekends caring for them.

She enjoyed taking people pictures but allowed very few of herself.   If she heard Oldies anywhere, she would have to dance, usually solo, no partner needed – thank you.  She had fun out on the golf course and loved to play games.  But, her greatest love was computers.  She volunteered at SHARE non-profit organization on Hilton Head Island for the past 15 years to help seniors learn and improve their computer skills.  Karen also spent countless hours here in her own community, the Crescent, helping neighbors and friends fix their computer problems.  She created all the flyers and brochures for our community and loved doing it.

Although Karen did not have her own children, she was a gift to nieces, nephews, and friends’ children.  Family children called her Aunt Karen and non-family called her Auntie K.  These young people were drawn to her.  Each of these children believed he or she was her favorite and they were.

Karen was seriously ill for her last 10 months, but only those closest to her knew her suffering and struggle.  She greeted each day and the people in it with joy and a smile.  Karen did not complain or bemoan.  Instead, she was uplifting to others with her humor, quick wit, and her stories. 

A memorial and celebration of her life will be held at 10:30am at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Bluffton on Friday May 29th.

In lieu of flowers donations to Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital would be appreciated.

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