[evelyn]

Dear HIMclubbers,

you maybe find it inappropriate to use HIMtalk for this, but since the board is so quiet these days anyway and I guess most people directly read one of the HIMsections, I found it actually quite appropriate. Especially since almost every member of this place joined cause of HIM, even though HIM are maybe not the reason for your visit here anymore for some of you.

Anyway. Since the beginning of HIMclub she has been around, more of a silent watcher, but always a peaceful and calm charackter, whose contributions like proof reading early HIMclub columns back in 2000 or later from 2004 on helping Klaus with the admin work and basically "rescuing" HIMclub from being offline were appreciated by a lot of people, back then when here used to be more regulars.

By that you all know whom I am talking about. I've read an email from her sister in law like half an hour ago and am still in disbelieve. I didn't even really wonder about Karens absence since these days a lot of people are quite busy elsewhere respectively with their work, and Karen had a lot of projects going on.

She used to send me postcards from her journeys, I always envied her for that. I can't even remember when I've gotten the last one and I feel so ashamed I forgot about her birthday this year. I actually planned to send her some other nice card, but now it will be a condolence card to her family, cause our dear Karen died end of July.

You know, we didn't had too close contact but here and there sent us longer emails or old school postcards. I always appreciated her oppinion and wisdom, and she used to be here like the very first minute of HIMclubs existence. Still I am deeply shocked and incredibly sad to read about Karen suffering from cancer like the last four years. You simply can't believe it, she was travelling so much, at least it seemed to me, she had so many things going on, to concentrate on, but in the end she didn't make it.

I kinda feel a bit like I can't find the right words so I leave it like this. I just felt the urgent need to tell you all about a very special and longtime member of this place.

A totally new journey for you..... rest in peace, dear Karen

This post has been edited by evelyn: 09 August 2010 - 08:37 PM

[Stern]

RIP
My condolences to her family and friends.

This post has been edited by Stern: 12 August 2010 - 06:17 PM

[Mary Madskills]

I can't believe this!
Karen has always been such a big part of HIMclub, in her own quiet way.
Never knew she had cancer, she never mentioned it - even when she wrote me a lovely letter after my dad passes away from cancer 2 years ago.
She always seemed full off life, even when she must have been sick.

Karen, you'll be greatly missed and I feel honored to have had you in my life, even if it was only virtual contact.

Rest in peace.

[LoveMetal]

I am very sad to hear this We used to "talk" sometimes and she was very helpful and I also think a very wise & warm person.

RIP Karen

[Cyanea]

that's really sad news i can't believe it
R.I.P. Karen

[Khorosho]

I am deeply sad and shocked about Karen's death. Like most of us, I had no idea about her severe illness.

I had the pleasure to meet Karen during my visit to the U.S. in 2003 and I remember her as a very friendly and open-minded person who gladly showed me around her town of Northampton.
Receiving Karen's birthday and Christmas cards and postcards from her numerous journeys has always put a smile on my face.

Karen's death is a loss to everyone who has or still does enjoy visiting this community, I am very thankful for her efforts to keep this place alive and to enrichen it with her wisdom.

She will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to her family.

Rest in peace my dear friend

[turbosissi]

although i'm not here on a regular basis like most of us did i of course remeber her from the very early years on. she was just always there, a part of himclub.
this is so sad and my thoughts go out to her family.

rest in peace, karen

This post has been edited by turbosissi: 09 August 2010 - 09:50 PM

[huggybecky]

Thank you to Evelyn for setting this up. I's been a long time since I've been here and I'm sad that it's this that brought me back.

I was very saddened to hear about this. I can't think what to say, Evelyn has captured everything so well.

Rest in peace Karen. You were an inspiration to many.

[Heidiagain]

From the very beginning Karen has been the wise and helpful hand of HIMclub. Really adored her for her intelligence, patience and gentleness. There are only few people who always strike the right note - and even only knowing her "virtually" she seemed to be one of them. She will be missed very much. Rest in peace, dear Karen.

[Burton_Girl]

im out of words (thank you Eve for letting me know), im totally shocked and like most people.i had no idea of Karen´s illness.
Never had much contact with Karen but to me she was one of the *faces* of himclub, she and Klaus started this place.
She was a very quiet person ,but always friendly.

Rest in Peace Karen,you won´t be forgotten
My condolences to the family and friends .

[Belial]

I won't profess to having known Nelson other than what I've seen on this forum, but her value to this place has always been very obvious to me. As has been mentioned, she has been with this place almost since day one and has frequently been integral in keeping it all together in some very tumultuous times, often in ways that nobody would realise.

When there were hosting issues, she helped. She contributed to the relaunch, she donated, she did tons and tons of admin grunt work, she kept a watchful eye on the forums through the good and bad times with all the good and bad folk that have come through over the years. Every way you can think to contribute, she has done. She kept her head low but she was always there every step of the way. And through everything I've seen since I joined here and started hanging around regularly (~ the latter-end of 2004), I never witnessed a single complaint, criticism or snide remark come from her. Not one.

Farewell Karen, and thanks for everything.

[Miges left leg]

I am really lost for words. I didn't talk to Karen all that often, but the few times we did talk, it was worth more than 100 other random conversations. She always struck me as one of those people who know 'everything'. Not in the -know it all- way, but in the way that you can always ask this person and she'll help you look at things differently so you can solve the problem.
This includes my one essay she looked over for me when I needed every single point to not fail my Uni degree.

You will be missed and never forgotten, Karen.
RIP



Blessed are the one way ticket holders
on a one way street.
Blessed are the midnight riders
for in the shadow of God they sleep.
Blessed are the huddled hikers
staring out at falling rain,
wondering at the retribution
in their personal acquaintance with pain.
Blessed are the blood relations
of the young ones who have died,
who had not the time or patience
to carry on this earthly ride.
Rain will come and winds will blow,
wild deer die in the mountain snow.
Birds will beat at heaven's wall,
what comes to one must come to us all.

For you and I are one way ticket holders
on a one way street.
which lies across a golden valley
where the waters of joy and hope run deep.
So if you pass the parents weeping
of the young ones who have died,
take them to your warmth and keeping
for blessed are the tears they cried
and many were the years they tried.
Take them to that valley wide
and let their souls be pacified.

[pennyroyaltea]

i'm in shock..
rip..

i cant say much now.. my hormones ar egetting me now..

still cant believe it..

[HIMika666]

It is so sad to get to know this.... all people here are special and worth talking to... very small and short message:

too bad we need to say good bye
our broken hearts really cry
we wish we could say hello
and cant be believe we cant do so

[Sister of night]

I'm so sorry to hear about it My deepest condolences to the Karen family.
May her soul rest in peace.

[kak666]

Evelyn has put everything so sweetly, Karen was lovely and gave me a kick in the pants when I needed it, but I always respected her. She had a good heart and this world will be sadder without such sweet people such as her.

R.I.P. and I hope she is now in a brighter world

[luadinverno]

Thanks, Evelyn.
I wish to express my condolences to her family and friends. I never spoke to her and, unfortunately, now I won't have the chance to meet the lovely person you say she was and I'm sorry for that too. Although I didn't know her, I feel sad and bit shocked since she was already familiar to me simply because she was part of this community. I remember she used to greet the newbies by adding a little personalized 'Welcome' image, which is sweet and thoughtful.

Thank you, Karen. May you rest in peace.

[Rob]

Unfortunately I didn't know her all that well
but I wish I did :/
and I appreciate very much so what she did (HIMclub)

even though I didn't know her as well as you all did
it's still quite shocking
my feart goes out to her friends and family ;/

Rest in Peace Karen!

[^Izzy^]

I know i havent been online in this place for sometime now but i am shocked from reading this. Always a calm person, resolving issues in a quite and polite way, Karen was and is the foundation of this place. May she rest in peace, thank you Karen for uniting us for all these years and for keeping this place alive. I am deeply shocked i dont know what to say, i regret not being here for sometime.

[Kiejt]

Rest in peace, Karen.
& my condolences to her family and friends.