Karen’s devotion to being of service to others led her to a life dedicated to helping those for whom much of society had overlooked and or discounted. Karen worked as a mental health professional for most of her career, and succeeded in bringing hope, inspiration and new beginnings to many people who were suffering.
She enjoyed not only being of service to others in her professional life, but also to bringing delight and joy to her family and friends through her love of play and her great skill at adding humor and wisdom, often in the same sentence, to any situation that called for it.
Karen passed into Spirit peacefully at her home in Longmont, Colorado on May 30, 2022. Her two beloved pets were by her side. She was 65 years old.
Karen was born in Denver, Colorado on May 29th, 1957 to Roy and Darline Sturgis of Broomfield, Colorado. Growing up in Broomfield, with her older brother, who were “partners in crime”, as they roamed their neighborhood in the 1960’s and 70’s. Family and friends converged in the backyard in an ongoing “quest for fun and for food”.
She loved nature and with her family explored Wyoming where her maternal grandparents had a home in Fort Laramie and spent most summers in Torrey, Utah where her father had mining claims. Her love of nature led her to later pursuits in gardening and exploring the raw beauty of the Rocky Mountains which she called home for much of her life.
At an early age, Karen sought to understand more of her life's purpose and its meaning, and became involved in community service with the 4H club, raising bunnies and participating in church youth groups as she explored the deeper aspects of life.
In high school she became interested not only in art and creating objects of beauty through pottery, knitting and sewing, but she also became a student of meditation and mindfulness and studied Buddhism and other spiritual paths as well.
After graduation from high school, Karen pursued her cosmetology certification and her dream to become a stylist. She lived in Durango, Colorado and worked for Crazy Horse Hair Salon for several years. She realized she had a gift not only for styling hair and helping people feel better about themselves, but also in listening to people and sharing with them potential solutions to their life challenges.
After leaving the salon in the early 1980’s Karen returned to the Denver area and worked for Storage Technology. At Storage Tech she met her future husband, Daniel Broderick and they married in 1982. They moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where they built a hand-crafted, beautiful log home and raised purebred collies.
Karen continued to pursue her education, receiving an AA degree and then a BA degree in social work while also working for a rehabilitation center for children with mental and emotional challenges.
In 1993, Karen divorced and returned to Boulder, Colorado to pursue an advanced college degree.
Ever on the cutting edge of new ideas and innovations, gadgets and gizmos, when Karen returned to the Boulder area she created, with the help of a master craftsman shipwright, a mobile coffee cart and christened it “Espresso Express.” After living in the Northwest where mobile coffee shops were very popular, she was one of the first to create one in Boulder. It was a masterpiece of fine woodworking and it became a popular destination point in Boulder Canyon where customers would enjoy her barista skills on their way up and down the mountain. She did this while also pursuing a masters degree.
Karen has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2009 and holds a MA in Psychology from Naropa Institute of Boulder and a BA in Applied Psychology from Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington.
Karen was a Residential Coordinator & Assistant Team Leader for the Mental Health Center for Broomfield & Boulder County, for 10 years. Was employed in private practice in Assessment & Scheduling for 14 years with Robert Bein, MD. Worked at Colorado Recovery for 10 years as a Therapist and the Program Manager for Balsam House. At that time Karen worked closely with Dr. Dick Warner, who became a mentor and her friend.
Karen presently was employed as a Therapist with Recovery Ways, Addiction Treatment Center, of Salt Lake City, Utah. Karen facilitated Specialty Groups remotely and provided counseling to individuals in addiction recovery.
Karen deeply loved her family and her friends, she enjoyed visits with her brother, Randy, and sister in law Sandy, and nephew Clayton of Port Townsend, Washington and gatherings with her close friend Lee Cook and her family of Longmont, Colorado.
Her love of beauty and nature was also seen in her own beautiful home and gardens. She loved to entertain friends and was known for her holiday cookie parties, delicious meals and amazing cheesecake. Karen’s love of people brought her to strengthen her own spiritual pursuits and in recent years, she continued her meditation studies and weekly practice with her Buddhist teacher.
As the Billy Joel song says “She had a way about her”. Karen was always willing to lend a helping hand, if it was helping friends to build a house, raise a beloved adopted “niece”, take care of elderly parents, or bring her brilliant sense of humor and astute mind to any situation; Karen was, “that bright spark that ignites the heavens." She brought a grace and wit that will be deeply missed by all who had the amazingly good fortune to know her.
Karen is survived by her beloved brother, sister-in-law and nephew, Randy, Sandy and Clayton Sturgis of Port Townsend, Washington.
Karen is preceded in death by her mother, Darline Sturgis, her father, Roy Raymond Sturgis and her sister Pam DeHart of Prescott Valley, AZ.
A private celebration of Karen’s life will be held on August 21st, 2022 in Boulder Canyon. A Fire Ceremony and funeral will follow at a later date when Lama Karma Rinpoche returns from teaching in Bhutan.
If you’d like to remember and honor Karen, donations can be made in her memory to:
Drukpa Mila Center
3585 Larkspur Drive
Longmont, Colorado 80503
Humane Society of Longmont
9595 Nelson Rd
Longmont, CO 80501
NAMI Boulder County
National Alliance on Mental Illness
3470 Broadway Street
Boulder, CO 80304
Phone: 303 433 4591
Email: [email protected]
