Karen (Lundstrom) Riemer

  Of Malden, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on March 24, 2023, at home at the age of 66. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister and friend; a giving and exuberant personality who leaves a gigantic hole in the lives of all who knew and loved her.
Born in Schenectady, N.Y., on October 2, 1956, to Hal and Ginny Lundstrom, Karen moved to Arlington in third grade and then never strayed far geographically, settling in Malden with her beloved husband Kevin nearly 30 years ago to raise their son David.

  Karen graduated from Arlington High School in 1974, then went on to UMass Amherst, where she received a BFA. In addition to studying interior design, she served as President of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, and made lifelong friends whom she still vacationed with. Karen never lost touch with anyone; once you met Karen you became a friend and she nurtured these friendships across miles and spanning generations.

  Karen relished being at all family events and socializing with relatives and friends. Her loving, personable nature never went unnoticed. She laughed very hard and often. Karen took special joy in her role as Master of Ceremonies for the annual 4th of July Pool Olympics in the backyard of the longtime family home on Gray Street in Arlington. Engaging her creative side, Karen documented all these events in picture and video, generating both joy and laughter whether her subjects were “picture-ready” or not.

  Officially an aunt to only four, in reality “Aunt Karen” had countless nieces and nephews as her extended family was HUGE. She was a renowned cookie maker and loved sharing her Christmas platters and specially decorated Thanksgiving Turkey and Easter Bunny cookies with family and all of the neighborhood. Her cookies were only surpassed in family lore and tradition by her specialty Christmas twice-baked potatoes and her famous summer ice cream pies.

  Karen’s career was in commercial Interior Design – even founding her own company, KL Interiors. But her real passion was taking care of others, starting with her son David, and including her mother, her nephews, neighbors, friends and numerous seniors in the community.
Karen gave generously of her time and was the consummate Volunteer serving her Church, the PTA, the Bread of Life Food Kitchen, and many local political campaigns. Additionally, Karen had a longtime involvement in the AA/Recovery community, where she took special joy in her position as the Greeter and was well known for giving The BEST HUGS!

  Karen loved camping and progressed from years in a tent to the relative luxury of an RV, which she and Kevin loved to take to Salisbury Beach for prime weeks in the spring, summer and fall. A lifelong Boston sports fan, Karen and Kevin shared a passion for both the Red Sox and NE Patriots and loved watching or listening on the radio even while camping.

  Karen leaves a big broken-hearted family, especially her husband Kevin of Malden and her son David of Dorchester. Karen also leaves her sister Joan Jantz and husband Andrew of Arlington, sister Gail Schlesinger (late husband Bob) of South Boston, brother Peter Lundstrom and wife Terry of Weymouth, niece Jess Schlesinger and nephews Rob Schlesinger and John and Tom Jantz. Not to be forgotten, Karen also doted on her “grand-dog” Roger and her “kitty kids,” Billy and Buddy.

  Relatives and friends are invited to visit in the DeVito Funeral Home at 1145 Mass. Ave., Arlington, on Saturday from 1:00–3:00 p.m. with a funeral home service to commence at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Karen to: Club24inc.org, BreadofLifeMalden.org or a charity of your choice. Please visit devitofuneralhome.com to view an online guestbook.