Karenina "Karen" Darmer

Karenina (“Karen”) M. Darmer, of Sudbury, age 54, the beloved wife of Jeffrey S. Beeler, passed away following a long illness on October 13, 2023, surrounded by family. Karen was born on November 8, 1968 in Atlanta, Georgia, to her biological parents, Ben and Susan Ellis Darmer. Karen is survived by her husband, Jeffrey S. Beeler, her son and daughter-in-law, Brennan D. and Katrina Beeler, her daughter, Evelyn L. Beeler, her parents, Wayne and Susan Ellis Purdom, of Decatur, Georgia, Ben Darmer and Sue Everets, of Buckhead, Georgia, her sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Noureddine El Karoui, her niece Sirine El Karoui, her nephew, Adlan El Karoui, all of Berkeley, California, and her sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and David Marreiro of San Mateo, California.

Karen was a 1990 graduate of Columbia University – Barnard College. Following that, at Suffolk University Law School, she was, as always, a standout student earning multiple honors including the Best Brief Award in the 1992 Justice Tom C. Clark Competition, the 1993 Am Jur Award for Advanced Torts, and between 1991 and 1993, she served on the staff and Board of Editors – as Executive Editor - of the Suffolk University Law Review. Following her cum laude graduation from Suffolk, Karen became a member of the Massachusetts Bar, and practiced with a civil litigation firm in Boston for several years.

Karen left the practice of law when her second child was born to focus on her family, which she did with passion and her dry, ever-present, sense of humor. Karen threw herself into making her house a loving, comfortable and welcoming home. She planned, directed, and finished major and minor home renovations. Whether digging holes, tearing down walls, swinging a hammer, framing, roofing, or doing finish work such as painting, she was hands-on. Karen also took great pleasure in landscaping projects and selecting, planting and tending her yard and gardens that produced yearly explosions of color from flowers and plants such as her favorites, hydrangeas and hostas. During the same time period, she became heavily involved in volunteer activities related to Sudbury’s schools from the elementary school to high school level serving on, among others, the Board of the Sudbury Education Resource Fund, Inc. [SERF], the Loring School Social Action Committee, and Friends of METCO at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School. Karen also served on Sudbury’s Property Tax Equity Review Committee. Karen was frequently and fearlessly at the tip of the spear in connection with efforts to properly fund Sudbury’s schools. In that regard she served with groups that worked to ensure an accurately informed electorate. Karen also worked in various roles, including Field Director, on several political campaigns for candidates seeking election to local offices, State Representative, State Treasurer, and the United States Senate.

With her children successfully launched to college, as she prepared to re-enter the legal field, Karen was struck by an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology that caused small fiber neuropathy and resultant autonomic dysfunction. Karen confronted her illness with her customary strength and bravery, seeking assistance from all three major Boston teaching hospitals, and dozens of specialists. She endured countless medical procedures, hundreds of painful infusions, and numerous disappointments with various treatments well known to those suffering from serious “orphan” diseases.

Karen fought until the end. She was the bravest, strongest person we have ever known. We will always miss the love, light and energy that surrounded her.

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 12-2:30PM in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., NATICK COMMON.  A remembrance will follow at 2:30 in the funeral home.  Come as you are.  A reception will be held at 5PM.  Details will be provided at the service.

Donations, in lieu of flowers, can be made to The Dysautonomia Research Fund operated by Dysautonomia International: https://dysautonomiainternational.salsalabs.org/2021dysautonomiadonate/index.html