Karen Virginia (Kolar) Bernstein

Karen Bernstein peacefully passed away at the age of 59 on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at home in Montezuma, NM. She was born on November 25, 1949 in Honolulu, Hawaii where she lived for the first 5 years of her life. She then moved to Los Angeles, CA with her family, where she lived until the age of 21. Feeling an ever-growing spirit of adventure she traveled to Guatemala, where she spent 6 months learning the art of weaving with women from the village of Panajachel. In February of 1972 she met her partner of 37 years, Carl Bernstein, who was passing through Guatemala on his way to Tierra del Fuego. Together, they spent 7 years of adventure traveling through Central America, South America and the Caribbean. In 1979 they returned to the United States and settled in Northern California for over 2 years. They then moved to Ocate, NM where they built their own home and raised two wonderful children, Ian and Jeremy. Together they grew gardens, enjoyed the natural beauty of the land and participated in many community activities. After over 25 years of living in Ocate, NM they recently moved to Las Vegas, NM.
During her many years in Ocate, Karen participated in many community service activities. She was dispatcher for the Ocate Volunteer Fire Department, an active member and Chairperson of the Ocate community Center. She was also a main organizer of the annual Ocate Arts Festival and a member of the Ocate Quilters. Karen was deeply respected and admired in the community for her kindness, generosity and loving spirit.
Karen enjoyed the quiet and peaceful solitude of the rural life in Ocate. At home she loved to garden, observe the changing seasons, do a wife variety of craft projects and spend time with her family and friends. Karen was a person of great beauty. Her deep love of life affected all who know her. She was honest, generous, kind and loving to everyone she encountered during her life. Here extraordinary presence, calm and interest in all that surrounded her, were a continual inspiration to her husband, sons, other relatives and many friends. She will be missed by all who knew her. Cremation has taken place and memorial services honoring Karen will be announced at a later date.

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