"Erik [son] said he intends to scatter the ashes of his father, mother and sister in a private ceremony at that quiet beach in Cambria."
[Source: Published in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, date Sept. 20, 2021; "How a brother's obituary for his Special Sister became a poignant internet phenomenon". ]∼Erik Sydow, her brother shared the story of a woman who "never had wants or misgivings." Karen, he wrote, had cerebral palsy and could speak only three words: "Mom," "Piano" and "Donalds," a reference to McDonald's, her favorite eatery.
Still, she experienced unbridled happiness, laughing and clapping on a recent "sunny bike ride" by a lake, Erik wrote. That August visit was the siblings' final one, and with it came a moment of unexpected understanding. Karen put her head on Erik's shoulder and shed tears, making clear she grasped the loss of their mother, who died in May.
Two weeks later, Karen died of heart and respiratory failure. "I think she really wanted to be with mom," Erik wrote.
Karen thrived at Tierra Del Sol in Sunland, a nonprofit center where she received physical therapy and took music classes for more than 30 years. Karen was a gift to the community.
[Source: Published in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, date Sept. 20, 2021; "How a brother's obituary for his Special Sister became a poignant internet phenomenon". ]∼Erik Sydow, her brother shared the story of a woman who "never had wants or misgivings." Karen, he wrote, had cerebral palsy and could speak only three words: "Mom," "Piano" and "Donalds," a reference to McDonald's, her favorite eatery.
Still, she experienced unbridled happiness, laughing and clapping on a recent "sunny bike ride" by a lake, Erik wrote. That August visit was the siblings' final one, and with it came a moment of unexpected understanding. Karen put her head on Erik's shoulder and shed tears, making clear she grasped the loss of their mother, who died in May.
Two weeks later, Karen died of heart and respiratory failure. "I think she really wanted to be with mom," Erik wrote.
Karen thrived at Tierra Del Sol in Sunland, a nonprofit center where she received physical therapy and took music classes for more than 30 years. Karen was a gift to the community.
"Erik [son] said he intends to scatter the ashes of his father, mother and sister in a private ceremony at that quiet beach in Cambria."
[Source: Published in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, date Sept. 20, 2021; "How a brother's obituary for his Special Sister became a poignant internet phenomenon". ]∼Erik Sydow, her brother shared the story of a woman who "never had wants or misgivings." Karen, he wrote, had cerebral palsy and could speak only three words: "Mom," "Piano" and "Donalds," a reference to McDonald's, her favorite eatery.
Still, she experienced unbridled happiness, laughing and clapping on a recent "sunny bike ride" by a lake, Erik wrote. That August visit was the siblings' final one, and with it came a moment of unexpected understanding. Karen put her head on Erik's shoulder and shed tears, making clear she grasped the loss of their mother, who died in May.
Two weeks later, Karen died of heart and respiratory failure. "I think she really wanted to be with mom," Erik wrote.
Karen thrived at Tierra Del Sol in Sunland, a nonprofit center where she received physical therapy and took music classes for more than 30 years. Karen was a gift to the community.
[Source: Published in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, date Sept. 20, 2021; "How a brother's obituary for his Special Sister became a poignant internet phenomenon". ]∼Erik Sydow, her brother shared the story of a woman who "never had wants or misgivings." Karen, he wrote, had cerebral palsy and could speak only three words: "Mom," "Piano" and "Donalds," a reference to McDonald's, her favorite eatery.
Still, she experienced unbridled happiness, laughing and clapping on a recent "sunny bike ride" by a lake, Erik wrote. That August visit was the siblings' final one, and with it came a moment of unexpected understanding. Karen put her head on Erik's shoulder and shed tears, making clear she grasped the loss of their mother, who died in May.
Two weeks later, Karen died of heart and respiratory failure. "I think she really wanted to be with mom," Erik wrote.
Karen thrived at Tierra Del Sol in Sunland, a nonprofit center where she received physical therapy and took music classes for more than 30 years. Karen was a gift to the community.
