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Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013
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Subject: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) From: Duane D. Date: 09 Aug 13 - 02:19 PM We recently learned of Karen's passing on July 09, 2013, at her home in New Britain, Connecticut. She was born on December 19, 1946. She was sixty-six years old. She will be remembered at Folk Legacy Records as a friend and volunteer support person and was regularly seen selling Folk Legacy products at the various Folk Festivals. The only known obituary, at this time may be viewed here: "http://www.tributes.com/show/Karen-L.-Kobela-96177794" The following remembrance was written by Caroline Paton: Dear Friends of Karen Kobela, We were deeply saddened yesterday to learn that Karen died of a heart attack at her home in New Britain, Ct., on July 9th. She is survived by one brother, Tom Kobela, who lives in central New York State. Karen had an extremely interesting and varied career, about which we will write more soon. We new her best as a lover of folk-singing with a life-long dedication to traditional music. Karen was a volunteer for Folk-Legacy for years. We are especially indebted to her for a beautiful cross-referenced index of all of the songs on our recordings. A true labor of love! Farewell to a dear and long-time friend. Caroline Paton Lee Townsend Duane Degutis Folk-Legacy Records
-Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) From: gnu Date: 09 Aug 13 - 02:39 PM Condolences to all. RIP |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) From: KT Date: 09 Aug 13 - 02:48 PM I'm so sorry to hear this. Karen was a warm, gracious presence at my first Getaway, and I so enjoyed the brief time I spent with her. My condolences to you, Caroline, and all who had the good fortune of knowing her. KT |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Aug 13 - 03:09 PM That is a very sketchy obituary in the link. I hope people will visit here and flesh out the information about her life. SRS |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: GUEST,SussexCarole Date: 09 Aug 13 - 03:27 PM I am so sorry to hear this sad news. After first meeting Karen at the Getaway she came over to UK in 2004 and stayed with me in Sussex. We had a wonderful time including visiting the Victory and Mary Rose at Portsmouth - I have vivid memories of Karen leaning out of the car window while we were in a string of traffic, she was determined to get a good photo of Arundel Castle. Karen put together a wonderful sampler of Folk Recordings as a gift, this will be all the more special now. My condolences to all of Karen's family and friends. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: DebC Date: 09 Aug 13 - 03:45 PM I am so saddened by this. Karen was a wonderful and beautiful person who I had the good fortune to get to know, mostly through the Patons. She had a tremendous love for the old songs and I recall her singing a few quite nicely. She will certainly be missed. Deb Cowan |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Ebbie Date: 09 Aug 13 - 03:56 PM I too remember Karen from my first Getaway. She was/is a warm spirit who seemed to love life with all its ups and downs and the people in it. RIP, Karen. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: KathWestra Date: 09 Aug 13 - 04:24 PM Karen had myriad health problems, which she resolutely avoided discussing, preferring instead to soak up folk concerts and festivals whenever she could, and to enjoy the company of the people she met along the way. She was one of those quiet, dedicated people who volunteer and listen at so many folk gatherings. You all know someone like Karen. She was always there--especially as a volunteer for Folk Legacy at NOMAD, NEFFA and Old Songs. She really, really loved Sandy and Caroline Paton and their family, and the bigger Folk Legacy "family" they created on both sides of the Atlantic. She was a warm, caring, generous friend to her friends, and so grateful for the connections she developed through the far-flung music community that comes together at festivals and music weekends. And Karen was a very, very private person who apparently had many struggles in her life that she was loath to talk about. She had retreated these last couple of years, and I had wondered if there was something seriously wrong. I am sad and sorry that she died before I could let her know I'd been thinking and wondering about her. Rest in peace, Karen. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: bradfordian Date: 09 Aug 13 - 04:59 PM Karen had a song on the first Mudcat Cafe CDs Blue Plate Special - Strawberry, "This Time Again" A pleasant easy going melody, though the quality of the recording was a bit ropey, but another little reminder of her presence in our Mudcat world. bradfordian |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: SINSULL Date: 09 Aug 13 - 05:52 PM RIP, Karen She was often with Sandy and Caroline when I visited. One night during the World Series, she and Sandy were downstairs watching the game; Caroline and I were upstairs watching "I Know Where I'm Going" (altogether BIG SIGH and count the beams in the ceiling). We were worlds apart. LOL She will be remembered for all her kindnesses especially to the Patons. M |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Janie Date: 09 Aug 13 - 06:37 PM I'm sad to hear this, and also appreciate you letting us know, Duane. Like others, I experienced Karen as such a warm, welcoming and positive presence, at Getaways and here on Mudcat. One of those people I always wished to know better. karen k on Mudcat. I noticed as she began to fade away on Mudcat and now kick myself for not taking the time to reach out. I simply assumed the place had become so raucous she didn't care to visit any more. And that may have been the case. Still, I wish I had reached out or made inquiries. My condolences to all who loved her and knew her much better than did I. I can close my eyes and imagine she and Kat soaring around the universe, filled with wonder and joy. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Matthew Edwards Date: 09 Aug 13 - 06:50 PM I'm very sorry to hear this. I met Karen when she visited England in 2004 and came to the National Festival at Sutton Bonnington. She talked about the songs she loved, and she knew a lot of rare and interesting songs. My condolences to Karen's family. Matthew |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: ChanteyLass Date: 09 Aug 13 - 07:59 PM I only "knew" Karen from her posts on Mudcat, but I'm sorry to read this. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Aug 13 - 08:23 PM This makes me really sad. Karen was a wonderful person, and a great singer. She always came up with such interesting songs. Rest in peace, Karen. You had a full life. -Joe- P.,S. I would suggest that we make this the official obituary, instead of the link Duane provided. That's a commercial operation trying to make money off the Social Security death index. I "de-linkified" the URL Duane provided, to make it less likely people will use it. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: NOMADMan Date: 09 Aug 13 - 08:26 PM So sorry to hear this sad news. Karen was always a delightful presence at the Folk-Legacy booth at NOMAD, NEFFA and so many other festivals over the years. She will be missed. Regards, John |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Duane D. Date: 09 Aug 13 - 08:48 PM Thanks Joe, I was not aware what the site is, except it is the only site I could locate any information about Karen. I also thank all the folks who have posted their comments and remembrances. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Nancy King Date: 09 Aug 13 - 09:07 PM Very sad news indeed. I did not know Karen well, but whenever I saw her I found her to be cheerful, helpful, and definitely a devotee of the music we all love so much. My condolences to her family and all who were close to Karen. Nancy |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Bat Goddess Date: 09 Aug 13 - 09:08 PM It's been a difficult year and this is another loss. Our condolences to her family and friends. She will be missed. Linn (Tom, too) |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Jeri Date: 09 Aug 13 - 09:34 PM She was always nice to me, and as stated, had a wonderful assortment of songs. She asked me to sing a song at NEFFA one year--the only time I got to wear a "performer" badge. She had a beautiful clear singing voice. I hadn't seen posts from her for a long time (I see now her last post was in Feb 2012). I can't remember the last time I saw her, either. Condolences to those close to her. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Amos Date: 09 Aug 13 - 09:37 PM Oh, nooooo. She was a treasured contributor to the Mudcat CDs back in the day, and her passing leaves a hole in my mind. A |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Bill D Date: 09 Aug 13 - 10:16 PM When she was in town, she would always appear at house concerts in the Wash DC area and as others note, would attend the Getaway as often as possible. Always friendly and in good spirits despite her medical difficulties. She will be missed by many. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: KathWestra Date: 09 Aug 13 - 10:42 PM It would be wonderful if Duane could find a way to share this thread with Karen's only brother, Tom. I have no idea if he knows about this place, but I believe would be glad to read these remembrances. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: GUEST Date: 10 Aug 13 - 12:08 AM Oh what a loss though also, perhaps, a deliverance from her many aches and pains. She told those of us who enjoyed her visits here the DC area that she would stop coming down to stay with us any more because it was just too taxing. We all regretted it because she was such good company. On her visits, would head off with her to the Parkway Deli and laugh and have pretend food fights and other goofy things. Karen could be an amazingly good singer and had a fine handful of songs under her belt I remember her performing one and bringing Sandy Paton to tears-- she sang, true, sincerely, and without artifice. Karen was also a book hound who loved collecting and singing old gospel tunes. Many years ago, when she was just latching on to the folk community and vice versa, I remember her selling leather work as a crafter. Somehow that disappeared. She did good if sometimes wearing jobs when she could work: crisis outreach on the phone, work with foster children, some sort of social work after Katrina that took her to New Orleans-- she didn;t talk a lot about that part of her life, but when she did you knew she took it seriously and cared a lot about helping people. That's just a little bit of the way she was and we will miss her so, so much! --Lisa Null |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: catspaw49 Date: 10 Aug 13 - 07:53 AM Karen was always a valued member here and much as she lived in 3d her actions here were the same.......and all to be admired and cherished. Her contributions were large and yet she managed to remain private. I exchanged some wonderful PM's with her over the years as she also was blessed with a sense of humor that surprised, but only at first. Like Janie, Jeri, and others, I had noticed she wasn't as active and then around less and less and I figured perhaps her health issues were a part of that but I did nothing to find out........and I feel guilty that I didn't at least try to reach out to her. Way too often I do that................. I thank Kath Westra for her post and those of others who had known offline. I wish I had too. She was a friend here though and like the rest of the folks posting, I will miss that quiet presence. Rest easy Karen Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: RoyH (Burl) Date: 10 Aug 13 - 09:25 AM Farewell to another American friend I met through the wonderful fellowship of folk music. Condolences to her family. R I P Karen. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: bbc Date: 10 Aug 13 - 12:20 PM A gentle woman & a mainstay of both the Folk Legacy family & mudcat. Rest in peace, my dearest dear! With respect, Barbara |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: GUEST,Marie Dufresne Date: 10 Aug 13 - 02:17 PM Karen was my friend for nearly 40 years having met for the first time at The Fox Hollow Festival . It was never too difficult to get Karen to visit us in Maine and we also shared time and space at many festivals over the years . I messaged her often in the last few months but received no reply so I knew that there was something very wrong and let it lie . Kathy is right she was very private when things were not going well and we just had to respect that. I have been in touch with Karen's brother via Face Book --if you were a Face Book friend of Karen's you can message him from her site. Tom is going to make sure that all her recordings and books will find homes with people who love the music as much as she did and will put them to good use. I will miss you my friend --RIP. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: KathWestra Date: 10 Aug 13 - 02:45 PM Thanks, Marie. I know how much Karen really cherished the times she spent with you in Maine (Damariscotta?). She talked glowingly about her visits, and always seemed so happy to be in a place where she could see the ocean. I never got to show her my house, which was a five-minute walk from Rockland Harbor, with the sound of two different foghorns outside my bedroom window. She would have loved that, too, but I never managed to be around at the same time she was visiting over the three years I lived in Rockland. My condolences to you. Those 40-year friendships are immensely important, and losing Karen must leave a hole in the fabric of your life. It seems like you knew her the longest of us all. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: GUEST,Tom Kobela - only brother of Karen Date: 10 Aug 13 - 05:37 PM I am so saddened as I write this, and warmed from the bottom of my heart from the kind words of so many people. Karen had become reclusive in the last few years, I believe because of the diabetes she had developed. She became very weak and could barely take care of herself, refusing to burden anyone with her plight. Including me. I live near Ithaca, NY and had to rely on her communications to get any personal information about her. We spoke regularly on the phone. She had a deep love for my three children and my wife, Brenda, of 32 years. She was elated two and a half years ago when she became a Great Aunt (our gransons name is Wyatt Eli Krog!). Karen worked for 15 years, right up to a few days of her passing, at the United Way of Connecticut in Rocky Hill. She spent her hours there taking calls from people often in desperate difficulty and worked tirelessly to find for them the help they needed. Karens co-workers there spoke of her with great love and respect and were kind to my wife and I beyond measure. I will forever find comfort in their words. A few more things. Karen and I helped to start (1965) and operate a church coffeehouse called "The IN" in New Britain, Ct. It was in the basement of the old South Church and was the brainchild of a wonderful Youth Minister named Bill Comeau. Located between Boston and NYC we were able for years to host, usually mid-week, a wide variety of accoustic folk performers of all stripes. Names you would all recognize. All of us were in heaven. Personal conversations with and sometimes even music lessons from some of the nicest, most generous people in the world. Although Karen and I moved off in different musical directions, the wonderful music experienced there placed both of us on a lifelong path. Music became a spiritual nourishment for her. A means of taking in and giving out. An act of breathing. A sustainence of life. Karens remains were cremated and her ashes will be buried in a beautiful old active cemetary that borders the south end of our property in Mecklenburg, NY. I will record on her stone the love she had for folk music - and the love I had for her. Thank you all for your kindness. If anyone wishes to contact me directly, my email address is jomotheking@yahoo.com Tom K |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Barbara Shaw Date: 10 Aug 13 - 08:59 PM What a sad shock to hear that Karen is gone. Frank and I have known her for many years, beginning I think at a NOMAD festival. She expressed an interest in our band ShoreGrass and came to our workshops. Later, she invited me and Frank to accompany her at workshops at NOMAD and NEFFA, which we did with great joy, and she came to a couple of folk gatherings at our house. She laughingly allowed us to interject banjo or bass and guitar on some of her renditions of Child Ballads, and also insisted on pure a cappella on others. Karen was a wonderful singer and introduced us to many beautiful old ballads. I remember trying to help her find resources for a project that she called her life's work: indexing every traditional American and I think British folk song book and title. This work in progress was extensive, and no doubt exists among her possessions. Karen was a delight to know. I'm so saddened to hear of her passing but grateful that our paths crossed. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: GUEST,Dani Date: 10 Aug 13 - 09:06 PM Oh..... I am so grateful for this place, this community, that weaves us in and out of each other's lives. Karen and I met only for short times at the Getaway, but when I saw her name on this thread, I was flooded with memories of her sweet, sweet, gentle smile. She was the kind of person that makes you feel warm and peaceful just to be around. Thank you for sharing, Tom. Please accept my condolences on your family's loss. This world will be dimmer without her kindness. Dani |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: bbc Date: 10 Aug 13 - 09:12 PM Thank you for sharing, Tom. I am so sorry for your loss! Barbara |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Dan Schatz Date: 10 Aug 13 - 09:15 PM This is very sad news indeed. What a kind, gracious, warm person. We will miss her. Warmly, Dan |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Ed Brown Date: 11 Aug 13 - 08:10 AM So sorry to hear that we have lost Karen but thankful to those who have shared the news and their memories. We will always remember Karen's enthusiasm as she introduced us to wonderful U.K. performers whom we had not known before, saying "You've got to invite them to perform at your concert series". We always took her advice. Because of Karen our audiences were treated to performances by the likes of Norman & Betty McDonald and Geordie McIntyre & Alison McMorland. Ed & Beth Brown |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: GUEST,Trina Date: 14 Aug 13 - 03:58 AM I worked with Karen for 15 years at United Way and also knew and appreciated her life-long love of folk music and her beloved Huskies. She had so many people who cared about her. She is missed. |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Herga Kitty Date: 14 Aug 13 - 04:24 AM I also was privileged to meet Karen briefly at the National Folk Festival in Sutton Bonington, when she visited the UK in 2004, and I am very sorry to hear of her passing. Kitty |
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Subject: RE: Obit: Karen L. Kobela (karen k on Mudcat) July2013 From: Allan C. Date: 14 Aug 13 - 12:19 PM Karen was a sweet and gentle woman who I was always happy to see many times over the years. |
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