Obituary of Karen La Rose

August 5, 1954 - Sudbury, Ontario

May 28, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Karen Anne La Rose (nee Closs) of Drumheller, AB, following a short illness, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, AB, surrounded by her loving family.

Karen was born on August 5, 1954, in Sudbury, ON, to Norval and Catherine Closs (nee McPhee), both predeceased.

Over the years, Karen and her growing family lived in Ottawa, ON, and Pierrefonds, QC, until finally settling in Stratford, ON.  While raising her busy young family, Karen was employed at Fram Canada and was an integral part of the FRAM-ily for the better part of 29 years. Following a brief break after the closing of Fram in 2012, Karen returned to the workforce at Walmart. In the late fall of 2021, Karen officially retired and moved to Drumheller, AB, to be closer to her three children and their growing families.

Karen was an amazing and devoted mother to her three children whom she raised while balancing work and home life.  She was their role model and taught them to be hardworking, strong, independent, and loyal.  John, Rob, and Katie grew to be intelligent, determined, and loving adults; a wonderful representation of their mother. The bond between them is unbreakable.

Karen loved to cook and had a passion for gardening – particularly flowers.  During visits with her siblings and their families, Karen was known to share her expertise in their flower gardens. Karen was proud of her Scottish heritage and wore the McPhee tartan at special family occasions with great pride.

Karen was a beloved mother to John LaRose, Robert LaRose (Shannon) and Katie LaRose (Blair Herzog); devoted grandmother to Justine (Milo), Avery, Sonya, Elexa, Jaxon, Peyton, and Sawyer; loving great-grandmother to Serenity, Maryam, Fatimah, Amatullah, and Safiyyah; dearly loved sister of Brian Closs (Tim Rawson), Terry Closs, Bonnie Delay (Sebastian Agosta), Heather Brown (Gary predeceased), and Ralph Closs (Carrie Lynn); sister-in-law to Susan and Lynn; beloved niece to Anne Carscallen (predeceased), Teresa MacEachern, Rita McPhee (predeceased), Helen Gustafson and Joan McPhee.  She will be missed by her former spouse, Jack LaRose, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Our family would like to thank the doctors and nursing staff in Unit 46 at the Foothills Medical Centre for all their support and compassion through our darkest days.  

Memorial Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Eastside, 5388 Memorial Drive NE, Calgary, AB) on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mrs. La Rose’s service streamed live (see link below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 - 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: 1 (866) 412-4222,  www.albertacancer.ca/memorial, or to Foothills Medical Centre NICU, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Telephone: 403-944-1110, my.calgaryhealthfoundation.ca/page/112838/donate/1.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Karen’s family here.

In living memory of Karen La Rose, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Eastside, 5388 Memorial Drive NE, Calgary, AB T2A 3V9, Telephone: 403-248-8585.

Click Here to Sign the Video Guest Book and Watch Karen's Memorial Service