Karen Mullen died suddenly on Sunday, March 13, at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Born Karen Kassak, she grew up in Union.
After graduating from Union High School, she
attended Kean University where she began her studies
in social work. Karen earned a B.S.W. degree
from Kean in 1995, then two years later a Master
of Social Work degree from Fordham University,
Lincoln Center. Instilled with a strong
work ethic by her parents, Karen put herself through school by working a variety of jobs, which included the
nuclear medicine department at St. Barnabas Hospital and Bed, Bath & Beyond in Millburn. She was also a
certified fitness instructor and aerobics
teacher. Upon receiving her B.S.W., Karen
became a state certified social worker.
After earning her M.S.W., she was licensed in her field by the State of New Jersey. After exploring different
fields of social work, including an
internship with the Essex County Courts, where she met her future husband, Karen chose to work in the field
of geriatrics. Karen served as a social worker or
director of social work for a variety of nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, including: Green Brook Manor, Ashbrook and Allendale Nursing Homes. Most recently, she served as a social worker at Cranford Health and Extended Care Center, Cranford. Karen thrived in her field as an advocate for the elderly, while providing comfort to their families. Karen married her beloved
husband, Shawn Mullen, in 1998, and
gave birth to their son, Patrick, in 2001. She then
embarked on a new career as a full-time
mother, another field in which she excelled.
She doted on Patrick, but continued to take on
new challenges such as adopting and rehabilitating
stray animals. In 2003, Karen and Shawn became licensed foster parents. In 2004 they welcomed an infant into their home, whom they cared for over the next year. While continuing to focus on her family, Karen maintained her social work license and remained involved in the field of geriatrics by becoming a member of the Board of the Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Corporation. Karen also continued her love of physical fitness and recently completed her first 5K run. Karen is survived by her husband, Shawn, and son, Patrick, as well as her mother, Yoshi Kassak, and sister, Kathryn Kassak Spada. She was predeceased by her father, John Kassak.
Karen will be dearly missed by her loving family and many close friends and neighbors. She will always be
remembered for her selflessness toward
others, the many lives she touched, and the light she brought to the world.
The Westfield Leader, March 2005
Born Karen Kassak, she grew up in Union.
After graduating from Union High School, she
attended Kean University where she began her studies
in social work. Karen earned a B.S.W. degree
from Kean in 1995, then two years later a Master
of Social Work degree from Fordham University,
Lincoln Center. Instilled with a strong
work ethic by her parents, Karen put herself through school by working a variety of jobs, which included the
nuclear medicine department at St. Barnabas Hospital and Bed, Bath & Beyond in Millburn. She was also a
certified fitness instructor and aerobics
teacher. Upon receiving her B.S.W., Karen
became a state certified social worker.
After earning her M.S.W., she was licensed in her field by the State of New Jersey. After exploring different
fields of social work, including an
internship with the Essex County Courts, where she met her future husband, Karen chose to work in the field
of geriatrics. Karen served as a social worker or
director of social work for a variety of nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, including: Green Brook Manor, Ashbrook and Allendale Nursing Homes. Most recently, she served as a social worker at Cranford Health and Extended Care Center, Cranford. Karen thrived in her field as an advocate for the elderly, while providing comfort to their families. Karen married her beloved
husband, Shawn Mullen, in 1998, and
gave birth to their son, Patrick, in 2001. She then
embarked on a new career as a full-time
mother, another field in which she excelled.
She doted on Patrick, but continued to take on
new challenges such as adopting and rehabilitating
stray animals. In 2003, Karen and Shawn became licensed foster parents. In 2004 they welcomed an infant into their home, whom they cared for over the next year. While continuing to focus on her family, Karen maintained her social work license and remained involved in the field of geriatrics by becoming a member of the Board of the Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Corporation. Karen also continued her love of physical fitness and recently completed her first 5K run. Karen is survived by her husband, Shawn, and son, Patrick, as well as her mother, Yoshi Kassak, and sister, Kathryn Kassak Spada. She was predeceased by her father, John Kassak.
Karen will be dearly missed by her loving family and many close friends and neighbors. She will always be
remembered for her selflessness toward
others, the many lives she touched, and the light she brought to the world.
The Westfield Leader, March 2005
Karen Mullen died suddenly on Sunday, March 13, at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Born Karen Kassak, she grew up in Union.
After graduating from Union High School, she
attended Kean University where she began her studies
in social work. Karen earned a B.S.W. degree
from Kean in 1995, then two years later a Master
of Social Work degree from Fordham University,
Lincoln Center. Instilled with a strong
work ethic by her parents, Karen put herself through school by working a variety of jobs, which included the
nuclear medicine department at St. Barnabas Hospital and Bed, Bath & Beyond in Millburn. She was also a
certified fitness instructor and aerobics
teacher. Upon receiving her B.S.W., Karen
became a state certified social worker.
After earning her M.S.W., she was licensed in her field by the State of New Jersey. After exploring different
fields of social work, including an
internship with the Essex County Courts, where she met her future husband, Karen chose to work in the field
of geriatrics. Karen served as a social worker or
director of social work for a variety of nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, including: Green Brook Manor, Ashbrook and Allendale Nursing Homes. Most recently, she served as a social worker at Cranford Health and Extended Care Center, Cranford. Karen thrived in her field as an advocate for the elderly, while providing comfort to their families. Karen married her beloved
husband, Shawn Mullen, in 1998, and
gave birth to their son, Patrick, in 2001. She then
embarked on a new career as a full-time
mother, another field in which she excelled.
She doted on Patrick, but continued to take on
new challenges such as adopting and rehabilitating
stray animals. In 2003, Karen and Shawn became licensed foster parents. In 2004 they welcomed an infant into their home, whom they cared for over the next year. While continuing to focus on her family, Karen maintained her social work license and remained involved in the field of geriatrics by becoming a member of the Board of the Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Corporation. Karen also continued her love of physical fitness and recently completed her first 5K run. Karen is survived by her husband, Shawn, and son, Patrick, as well as her mother, Yoshi Kassak, and sister, Kathryn Kassak Spada. She was predeceased by her father, John Kassak.
Karen will be dearly missed by her loving family and many close friends and neighbors. She will always be
remembered for her selflessness toward
others, the many lives she touched, and the light she brought to the world.
The Westfield Leader, March 2005
Born Karen Kassak, she grew up in Union.
After graduating from Union High School, she
attended Kean University where she began her studies
in social work. Karen earned a B.S.W. degree
from Kean in 1995, then two years later a Master
of Social Work degree from Fordham University,
Lincoln Center. Instilled with a strong
work ethic by her parents, Karen put herself through school by working a variety of jobs, which included the
nuclear medicine department at St. Barnabas Hospital and Bed, Bath & Beyond in Millburn. She was also a
certified fitness instructor and aerobics
teacher. Upon receiving her B.S.W., Karen
became a state certified social worker.
After earning her M.S.W., she was licensed in her field by the State of New Jersey. After exploring different
fields of social work, including an
internship with the Essex County Courts, where she met her future husband, Karen chose to work in the field
of geriatrics. Karen served as a social worker or
director of social work for a variety of nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, including: Green Brook Manor, Ashbrook and Allendale Nursing Homes. Most recently, she served as a social worker at Cranford Health and Extended Care Center, Cranford. Karen thrived in her field as an advocate for the elderly, while providing comfort to their families. Karen married her beloved
husband, Shawn Mullen, in 1998, and
gave birth to their son, Patrick, in 2001. She then
embarked on a new career as a full-time
mother, another field in which she excelled.
She doted on Patrick, but continued to take on
new challenges such as adopting and rehabilitating
stray animals. In 2003, Karen and Shawn became licensed foster parents. In 2004 they welcomed an infant into their home, whom they cared for over the next year. While continuing to focus on her family, Karen maintained her social work license and remained involved in the field of geriatrics by becoming a member of the Board of the Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Corporation. Karen also continued her love of physical fitness and recently completed her first 5K run. Karen is survived by her husband, Shawn, and son, Patrick, as well as her mother, Yoshi Kassak, and sister, Kathryn Kassak Spada. She was predeceased by her father, John Kassak.
Karen will be dearly missed by her loving family and many close friends and neighbors. She will always be
remembered for her selflessness toward
others, the many lives she touched, and the light she brought to the world.
The Westfield Leader, March 2005
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