Karen Smith Jennings, of Beacon Falls, Ct. passed away peacefully at home on July 20th, 2024 at the age of 84. She was born on November 18th, 1939 in Milford, Ct, to Marion Lynch Smith and Clayton E. Smith. She grew up in Milford, Ct and graduated from Milford High School. As an adult, she resided in Oxford and Seymour Ct. before settling in Beacon Falls.
She was proud to share that she worked at Sikorsky Aircraft as a Helicopter Riveter, often referring to herself as the iconic, “Rosie the Riveter.” She also worked at a department store for many years and later retired as an agent for AllState Insurance. Following retirement, she obtained a degree as a beautician. Outside of work, she spent her time raising her three children, working tirelessly on a small farm, and maintaining her favorite hobby, growing flowers. She enjoyed going to the ocean to swim, dig for clams, and fish for snapper blues — often embarrassing her children by tying the bottom half of a Clorox bottle to their waists to put the fish in!
She loved sledding and ice skating with her children and spending time with her grand and great grandchildren. She had an insatiable appetite for seafood, baked potatoes with cheese and her granddaughter Krissy’s coconut cake. Just days before she passed, Krissy and her Mom, Darlene brought her, her two baked potatoes with cheese and coconut cake that she was thrilled and happy to receive! Karen will be remembered for her love of flowers, for teaching all of us how to be resourceful, for her sense of humor, but most remembered for being a strong, courageous woman who kept moving forward, despite many barriers, and for never missing a dance at a family celebration or wedding!
A heartfelt thank you to all of her family caregivers (you know who you are), for being so giving of your love, time and patience in caring for her throughout her life.
She was previously married to Wayne A. Svendberg and later to William V. Jennings. She is survived by her sisters, Marion McFarland, Eleanor Pugh, Jean Check and predeceased by her brothers, Joseph C. Smith and Dudley King and sister, Sally King Farrar. Two surviving children, Glenn and Darlene Svendberg of Southbury, Ct, Kelly Svendberg of Concord, NH, and predeceased by her son, Wayne C. Svendberg.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Collie Svendberg of Concord, NH, her grandchildren, Wayne F. and Jamie Svendberg, Kristine (Svendberg) Izhak and David Izhak, both of Southbury, Ct, Jessica (Svendberg) Cihal and Tyler Cihal of Naugatuck, Ct and Clayton T. Svendberg of Nashua, NH., and three great grandsons, Wyatt, Tracen and Aleks Svendberg, and several nieces and nephews.
A private celebration of life will be held in Southbury, Ct on Saturday, August 17th. Flowers can be sent to Munson — Lovetere Funeral Home, 235 Main St North, Southbury, CT, 06488
