Adam Krell said...

These are some messages that were sent on sympathy cards:

"Karen was so welcoming and caring, truly Christ-like. We will miss her."

"We are richer for having known Karen and the intimate place that she will always hold in all of your hearts. Your life together whispers of a better one yet to come."

"Our hearts go out to you and we pray that God will meet all your needs. What a beautiful soul Karen was! Thank you, Lord for her life."

"We have been blessed by Karen's joy, excitement and faith that has encouraged us over the years here in [mission field omitted]! She has been a faithful saint in the community there, a real champion for the Lord's work!"

"No words can express the sorrow that has pierced our hearts. Karen will be sorely missed."

"We grieve with you at the loss of such a dear, sweet spirit. There are no words sufficient to comfort; but praise God that you are all connected to the God of all comfort!"

"I have such wonderful memories of Karen. She was always a true and loving friend. What a pleasure to have these memories and to have Karen as a friend! I appreciate her passion for Christ and others. What a beautiful example of Christ she was to everyone. She was a beautiful person inside and out."

"What a lovely expression of Christ's love and nature your Karen was. She was so full of fun and love."

"It is comforting to know that Karen's excitement for, support of, and gladsome exuberance in community life has more than prepared her for the 'community life' which is Heaven - there she is as one of the 'great cloud of witnesses' urging you and all of us to perfect on earth the Image of what she is now experiencing in the Presence of her Blessed Lord and Redeemer."

May 24, 2008 at 7:11 AM

Dave Kobus said...

From my eyes, Karen was always busy serving in one way or another. I benefited from her in many ways. Karen loved God, and that love out poured on her family and all of us. Karen was fun and energetic. Karen seemed like she was constantly looking and planning out, the next thing to do. I guess one of the main things i could say about Karen is that she looked for truth and she took it on, being shaped and molded by it.

May 27, 2008 at 4:21 PM

Unknown said...

I knew Karen from Faith Baptist Church when we were in youth group together. The thing I'll always remember about Karen is her sweet Christ like personality and infectious smile.

Like Tim, I lost my wife suddenly in March. We were just three months shy of our 20th wedding anniversary. I totally understand the pain and heartache that Tim is going through and my prayers for healing go out to him.

June 5, 2008 at 12:52 PM

Kelcy said...

Just a few months ago, I was struggling with some things and Karen came over to my house and stuck this note under my door on a Sunday morning: "Kelcy, I've been thinking about you and praying for you for strength and health in the midst of being pregnant and a busy schedule" (no one was ever busier than Karen)"And too remembering what you shared last Saturday--Remember, our struggle is not against flesh and blood-though Satan fights hard, accusing the brethren and God constantly to us to make us think it is. Stand Firm! Have faith--remember all God has done in your life, where He's brought you. He's for you! I am for you! Don't believe otherwise. If you get weary and need help with anything, I'm here. I mean it, just let me know. Love, Karen"

When I read those words she wrote "Stand Firm!" it reminds me of how she was. Her life challenges me in this, that she was steadfast, unwavering, undoubting, and full of faith. I'm so glad I have this small concrete memory. It was precious to me when she gave it to me as a sign of friendship, and it is even more precious to me now as a symbol of who she was and what she lived for.

June 5, 2008 at 7:19 PM

Margie said...

Since the passing of such a dear sister and friend, I have been filled with various thoughts and emotions. The other day I remembered this poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. He was a poet in the 1800's.He wrote this poem in the 17 years following the death of his best friend. It has been a real source of comfort for me. Here are a few stanzas from it, and at the end is a link to the whole poem.

I.
              
Strong Son of God, immortal Love,
Whom we, that have not seen thy face,
By faith, and faith alone, embrace,
Believing where we cannot prove;


Thine are these orbs of light and shade;
Thou madest Life in man and brute;
Thou madest Death; and lo, thy foot
Is on the skull which thou hast made.


Thou wilt not leave us in the dust:
Thou madest man, he knows not why,
He thinks he was not made to die;
And thou hast made him: thou art just.


Thou seemest human and divine,
The highest, holiest manhood, thou.
Our wills are ours, we know not how;
Our wills are ours, to make them thine.


Our little systems have their day;
They have their day and cease to be:
They are but broken lights of thee,
And thou, O Lord, art more than they.


We have but faith: we cannot know;
For knowledge is of things we see
And yet we trust it comes from thee,
A beam in darkness: let it grow.

XVIII
'Tis well; 'tis something; we may stand
Where he in English earth is laid,
And from his ashes may be made
The violet of his native land.


'Tis little; but it looks in truth
As if the quiet bones were blest
Among familiar names to rest
And in the places of his youth.


Come then, pure hands, and bear the head
That sleeps or wears the mask of sleep,
And come, whatever loves to weep,
And hear the ritual of the dead.


Ah yet, ev'n yet, if this might be,
I, falling on his faithful heart,
Would breathing thro' his lips impart
The life that almost dies in me;


That dies not, but endures with pain,
And slowly forms the firmer mind,
Treasuring the look it cannot find,
The words that are not heard again.

XXVII
I envy not in any moods
The captive void of noble rage,
The linnet born within the cage,
That never knew the summer woods:


I envy not the beast that takes
His license in the field of time,
Unfetter'd by the sense of crime,
To whom a conscience never wakes;


Nor, what may count itself as blest,
The heart that never plighted troth
But stagnates in the weeds of sloth;
Nor any want-begotten rest.


I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
            

Here is the link http://www.online-literature.com/tennyson/718/

June 19, 2008 5:19 AM

Brittany said...

Growing up in our community, we call the "adults" aunt and uncle. And Aunt Karen was truly like my aunt.

Some of my favorite memories of her all center around nine o clock every Sunday morning. She sang in our worship team - I play percussion. I remember she would sing off-key just to bother us. There would be times that something funny would happen during worship practice, then, during the actual service, she would be singing, and then she would look over at me and we would both almost lose it.

Life with Aunt Karen was never boring. She has left a gaping hole in all of our lives, and I miss her.

Death Be Not Proud
by: John Donne

DEATH be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not so,
For, those, whom thou think'st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell'st thou then;
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
            

June 26, 2008 12:28 PM

michael colleluori said...

I was deeply saddened when my wife called to give me the news of Karen's passing. I was in San Francisco and don't think I've been back to Hammonton since 1996. From the time that I knew Karen, I can honestly say that I have never met someone who was ALWAYS in a great mood. Adam's video was called "Sunshine Personified". I will always think of Karen as Joy personified. My thoughts go out to Tim, Jordan, Derek, their family and all of her friends at Life Mission.

July 7, 2008 12:00 AM

JamesTheJust said...

Hi Adam and those at life-mission.org.

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. It's been awhile since I've visited the site so I'm just learning of it.

Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers,
James Matthews
Fort Huachuca, AZ

July 29, 2008 8:24 PM

Lisandra Petersen said...

I remember that Karen was the first face I saw from the center. She picked me up from the airport when I first arrived to New Jersey. I was scare because I did not know what I was getting myself in to but God knew. It was an experience that has changed my life. Karen was my friend, sister, support, and one of my caregivers during the time I spent at the center. Her life was a living example of Christ's love and care for his lost children. I was no of those lost souls that needed that love and care.

It brings sorrow to my heart to know that she is not with us. However, it comforts me to know that it is not goodbye but until we meet again.

August 23, 2008 7:57 AM

Diana Steele said...

Karen Niles was a second mother to me. I loved her so much. Altough I was not there in her last days, I am so thankful I was able to see her a couple years ago, after being gone for 5 or 6 years. I wish I could give Uncle Tim a hug.

My brother Jon wrote a poem about a week ago:

"To Karen Niles who left two sons and a memory that would last far beyond her time"
...Can you just visit?
Just for a day?
It was a shock of pain when I heard you passed away.
I can see Tim listening to what the doctor had to say,
They lost the fight against the cancer in their way.
Back in Hammonton you were a mom to me.
Knew me since I was born, and guided me when i could not see.
And as the dove will go out and mourn its past with a tune,
I too wonder why you had to leave so soon.

It is difficult still, to think that Karen is not with us any more. But when i do think of her, all I can remeber is her wonderful sense of humor. She was funny, she was very caring, very loving. I love you Aunt Karen

September 12, 2008 5:13 PM