Karen (Kelleher) Mason

Karen (née) Kelleher Mason went home to our Lord on July 1st, 2025. She was surrounded by her family, including her wonderful and kind husband of 40 years, George; her eldest son, George “Sam” Mason, Sam’s wife Haley, and their children Wesley, Logan, and a baby girl expected this fall; her youngest son Stuart and his wife Danielle; as well as Karen’s younger brother Frank and his partner Patricia. 

Karen attended Matignon High School in Cambridge, MA where she graduated with honors in 1974. She furthered her education at Suffolk University in the Beacon Hill area of Boston. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1978. Karen was hired at the State Auditor's Office in Boston. She was selected to serve as a special accounting investigator for The Blue-Ribbon Commission Investigating State and County Building Contracts. 

In 1981, she left Boston and moved to York Beach, ME where she had spent summers as a child with her siblings. Shortly thereafter, Karen was hired by The Timberland Company. She started as an accountant in Newmarket, NH and rose through the ranks to become director of financial reporting. She worked closely with senior management and travelled extensively for Timberland during those years.

After several years at Timberland, Karen decided to leave so she could spend more time with her two young boys. She became a full-time mom, and that proved to be the most rewarding job of all!

Karen was always good-natured and well liked. Ever the life of the party, she loved sports, music, playing board games with her grandsons, and going to casinos. Karen was a varsity college athlete, an avid reader, and a lifelong learner–tuning in to her favorite show Jeopardy! every night she was able. She loved a good meal, loved to cook, and loved to share her favorite dishes with others. Her meatball recipe—modified from her mother’s—has been a family favorite for four generations and counting. 

Karen’s battle with cancer never dampened the great force of spirit within her. She lived life to the fullest and enjoyed many moments with family and friends. As her cancer progressed, she was determined to reach certain goals with her remaining time. She wanted to make it to 68 years old, and she did. She wanted to celebrate her 40th wedding anniversary, and she did. Striving for these and other important life milestones gave her added purpose and certainly contributed to the meaningful amount of extra time her family got to spend with her. 

In addition to her aforementioned brother, Karen leaves two loving sisters–her older sister Margaret of Hilo, HI and her younger sister Jennifer of Berwick, ME. She is also survived by many nephews, grandnephews, and grandnieces. Her parents Frank and Angela predeceased her, as did her nephew Forrest, her Aunt Rita, her Uncle Jack, and her dear sister Mary. 

A public graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 3rd, at 11am ET at First Parish Cemetery in York, ME. 

In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our sister. In this life you embraced her with your tender love; deliver her now from every evil and bid her eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome her into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.

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