Karen (McDonald) Durfee, 67, of Tiverton, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the wife of the late Ronald M. Durfee.

Karen was born July 30, 1949 in Newport, the daughter of the late Thomas G and Margaret P (Murphy) McDonald of Portsmouth.

Karen graduated from Portsmouth High School and the Style Beauty Academy in Fall River and the Newport School of Beauty to receive her beautician’s license in Mass. and RI. Karen worked for many years with her Aunt Lucille at her Park Avenue Beauty Parlor in Island Park until she started her family. Over the years Karen held a variety of administrative positions while raising her family. For the last 20 years, she was employed by Boys Town New England, retiring on May 31, 2017.

Karen enjoyed gardening, reading, camping, beachcombing (especially for sea glass), and preparing her favorite “Thanksgiving Holiday Feast”, each year for family and friends.

She is survived by her four children, Rebecca, Nathan and Jamison Durfee, all of Tiverton, Jennifer Brooks and Robert Brooks of Westerly, RI; her grandchildren, Brianna, Austin and Aidan Durfee, and Daniel, Jason, Autumn and Benjaman Brooks, all of Tiverton; and her siblings, Michael McDonald and his wife Marybeth of Portsmouth, John McDonald and his wife Laurie of Middletown, Colleen McDonald Ginter and her husband Robert of Harwinton, Conn.; her sister-in-law, Rebecca McDonald of Portsmouth; and several nieces and nephews.

Karen is preceded in death by her brother, Thomas McDonald.

Calling hours will be Friday, June 16 from 4-7 p.m. at Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth.

Her funeral will be Saturday June 17, at 8 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 in St. Christopher’s Church, 1554 Main Road in Tiverton. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Tiverton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to Boy’s Town New England 58 Flannigan Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871, or to the American Cancer Society, 931 Jefferson Blvd Suite 3004 Warwick, RI 02886.

Additional information at www.memorialfuneralhome.com»