In Memoriam: Matushka Karen Mahaffey

Funeral services for Matushka Karen Mahaffey, 54, were celebrated at Holy Trinity Church here on Friday, August 10, 2007, with interment at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery Cemetery, South Canaan, PA, the following day.

Matushka Karen, the wife of the Very Rev. David Mahaffey, rector of Holy Trinity Church, fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, August 8, after a long battle with cancer.

The daughter of Anna Baron Meterko and the late Michael Meterko, Jr., she was a native of Spangler, PA. A graduate of Tri-County School of Cosmetology, she graduated as the best hairstylist in her class. She also graduated from Jefferson County Vo-Tech with a certificate in furniture upholstery. She and her husband were married May 5, 1973, at Saints Peter and Paul Church, Urey, Glen Campbell, PA. Karen was a former den leader for Cub Scout packs in the Burnside and Clearfield area of the Bucktail Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Very gifted musically, she played the saxophone and piano and directed choirs at her home parish in Urey and Saint Michael Church, Old Forge, PA, where her husband served as rector for a number of years. She also sang in the Wyoming Valley Orthodox Choir and Holy Trinity choir, Pottstown. Besides her musical talents, she was gifted in the areas of painting, crocheting, ceramic figurine pottery, sewing, and hand-made crafts. She was responsible for organizing many parish food sales and coordinating the baked goods stand at the annual Memorial Day pilgrimage at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery. She also had served as Church school director of Saint Michael Church and served on the board of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Department of Christian Education.

In 2003, Matushka Karen was diagnosed with a rare form of melanoma and fought a valiant battle against this dreaded disease for the rest of her life, remaining very active until a few weeks before her repose.

In addition to her husband and mother, she is survived by four children, Nikolas David, Dunmore, PA; Sterry Michael and wife, the former Nicole Koch, Lansdale, PA; Seth Robert, West Pittston, PA; and Kyra Ann, Pottstown, PA; one sister; and two brothers.

Donations in Matushka Karen’s memory may be made to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 1230 North Hanover St., Pottstown, PA 19464, or to the Matushka Karen Mahaffey Scholarship Fund, Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, PO Box 130, South Canaan, 18459.

May Matushka Karen’s memory be eternal!