UMBER, Karen

Karen Colburn Umber, 50, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2002. Her beloved family surrounded her in her Scottsdale home when she lost her courageous battle with cancer. Karen was born on February 1, 1952 in Herkimer, New York to Everett and Suzanne Colburn. Karen attended Ilion High School from 1967 to 1970 and Herkimer Community College from 1970 to 1972. From 1974 through 1982, she worked at Syracuse Upstate Medical Center as Executive Secretary and Administrative Assistant in the Department of Medicine. Karen met her husband, Dennis, while she was vacationing in Arizona in 1981. After a two-year courtship that spanned between New York and Arizona, Karen and Dennis were married in 1984 and made Arizona their permanent residence. Karen worked for the Salt River Project from 1984 to 2000 and she most recently served as a Medical Staff Assistant at Scottsdale Healthcare, Osborn and Shea Campuses. Karen will be remembered for her compassion, everlasting happiness, and her willingness to help others. Her personality exuded sunshine wherever she went. She valued her family most of all and she was a perfect wife and mother. Karen's interests included vocal music, the performing and visual arts, writing, the outdoors, and aerobic exercising. She was a free spirit and she would always jump at the opportunity to travel or take on a new experience. Karen loved all animals and especially her beloved Basenji, Snickers. Karen will be intensely missed yet her memory and presence will always live on in all those who knew her. Karen is survived by her soul mate and husband, Dennis; her son, Blake; her mother, Suzanne Colburn of Ilion, New York; her twin sister and brother-in-law, Donna C. and Brent D. Wheat and their daughters, Courtney and Gillian of Catskill, New York; her sister Patricia Colburn and her children Amber and Abe of Ilion, New York; her brother and sister in law, James E. and Judith Colburn and their children, Jenny and Josh of Murrieta, California; as well as three aunts, Ann Hildebrandt, Kristina Pollak and Marion Pollak; and several cousins and close friends in New York. She was preceded in death by her father, Everett Colburn of Ilion, New York. Services will be held at Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary, 8555 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale, AZ. Visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on December 2nd and Funeral Services at 10:30 A.M. on December 3rd. The family would like to extend a warm invitation to all those who knew Karen to join in this celebration of her life. As a memorial, donations can be made in Karen's name to the Virginia Piper Cancer Center and mailed to Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation, 10001 North 92nd Street, Suite 121, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258. Published in the Arizona Republic from 11/28/2002 - 11/30/2002.