Our dear Karen passed away on Tuesday, August 16 post surgery while in the Sunnybrook Hospital Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Born in Picton, Ontario, she grew up on a nearby farm with her loving parents, mother Beulah Ruth Tubbs (née Brummel) and father John Albert Tubbs. Predeceased by her dear younger brother Marshall (Mary), Karen is survived by her beloved husband Paul Becker and cherished daughters Susan Rutherford (Stelian Anton) and Gillian Rutherford (Glenn Mitchell). Loving Gramma to Jack, Ned and Joseph Staples; and doting Aunt Karen to nieces Julia Tubbs and Anne-Louise Marriott and nephew Graeme Tubbs (Emily) and all of their children. Missed by sister-in-law Elizabeth Becker (Blair) and brother-in-law Peter Becker (Maureen). Karen was a bright and determined child who put a high value on education despite the limited career choices for women in the 1950s. After high school, she spent a year as a Temporary Certificate teacher, instructing multiple grades of students, some taller and older than she was. She enrolled in the School of Nursing at the University of Toronto, joining sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, and graduated as a proud member of the Class of ’61. At U of T, Karen made life-long friends and met her first husband, Ian Rutherford. While they lived in Montreal, Karen worked as an RN at the Lakeshore General Hospital and as a school nurse. In Toronto, Karen found the career that she truly loved as a highly successful real estate professional with Royal LePage. Karen met Paul Becker in 1993. They married in 1997 and moved to Cobourg in 2005. Sharing many passions, including travel, Paul and Karen explored the UK, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Atlantic Canada, Haida Gwaii, and many points in between. She took her daughters on wonderful trips, including Paris, Washington State and Tuscany. She treated her grandsons to memorable Grade 9 excursions to Paris and New York City. Karen shared many gifts with her family: a lifelong love of reading, joy in being outdoors (camping across Canada and canoe-camping were great passions), a flair for gourmet cooking, storied organizational skills and fabulous personal style. Karen showed strength and determination to succeed at everything she tried and made each of us feel seen and loved. We will cherish so many wonderful memories. Special thanks to sister-in-law Mary and family for loving support during a very difficult time. Thanks also to the compassionate and highly skilled professionals in the Schulich Heart Program Care Team at Sunnybrook Hospital Health Sciences Centre, especially during Karen’s final heart-related illness. And our thanks to Danielle Scott and Julia Lonsberry of Scott Home Care Services. If desired, donations in Karen’s memory may be made to the Sunnybrook Foundation or Alberta Cancer Foundation.
Please join us for a Celebration of Karen’s Life from 1 to 4pm on Sunday, September 25 at MacCoubrey Funeral Home in Cobourg. An opportunity to share your memories will begin at 2pm.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Karen Joan
Rutherford 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Cobourg, Province: Ontario