Karen Kolb Cermak - Memorial Fund

Dearest Loved Ones,

Karen Anne Cermak was a shining light in all of our lives - joyful, adventurous, supportive, kind, genuine, and above all, loving.  A wife, a daughter, a sister, a relative, a coworker, and the truest of friends to many.  Our beloved Karen lost her courageous battle with cancer on July 17, 2020. She fought a very tough fight and kept positive through it all.  

Medical bills quickly piled up during her battle, so we are writing today to ask for your support in helping raise funds for our friend, Karen. Your donation will go directly to cover her medical bills,  service costs and private student loan debt so that her husband, Curtis, and her mother, Renie can focus on healing. We are fundraising to help them through this heartbreaking time. Your love, support, and generosity are much appreciated.

Any overage will go to a scholarship fund in her name to Loyola Marymount University to help a deserving student.

Kristy Kroeger, Sabryna Phillips Oliver, and Lana Balachov will be running the campaign as TEAM KAREN! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out. 

We love you, Karen.
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News from her Husband and Mother
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It is with truly broken hearts we share that our loving, happy, beautiful, and strong Karen Anne Cermak (Kolb) has lost her battle with cancer on July 17, 2020.  She fought a courageous fight for the past few months, but it just moved too quickly.  She was surrounded with love and support, though it was a battle that she wanted to confront privately.  Karen had so much love to give that she used the last of her strength to protect others even in the toughest of fights.  While far too short, she lived a life packed with adventure. She lived every moment to the fullest, with joy, excitement, positivity and love beyond all. We cannot imagine a day without her glow and smile, but take solace in knowing that she is now smiling down on all of us from above, holding hands with her father. 

We are working to plan a service so that we can all celebrate the wonderful life that she lived and will share those details shortly.  Please reach out to Kristy, Sabryna or Lana for questions or updates in order to give us time to heal, but know that we will feel your love and support. 

All our love,

Curtis Cermak and Renie Kolb

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The Details of the Use of Your Donations
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Karen was the best friend to Sabryna, Kristy and Lana.  Sabryna will the person withdrawing money from this account in order to make the payments needed on Karen's behalf so that Renie and Curtis do not have to worry about these tactics and can focus on healing.  Go fund me has asked that we include the details of who will be making these withdrawals, which are now noted below.

The medical bills are in Karen's name, but now in Lana's possession and all new bills will be sent to her.  Lana will be sorting through the bills and Sabryna will be making the payments directly from the funds in this go fund me account. 

Karen has both federal and private student loans for her time at Loyola Marymount University.  The federal student loans will likely be discharged, but the private will not.  Karen's student loans are in her mother's name so Lana is also working directly with Renie on the payment of those loans, which will come out of this account to pay off student loans via Sabryna withdrawing from this account.

Kristy is working with a Church in Rancho Palos Verdes for the catholic funeral ceremony for Karen that will be streamed virtually to friends and family on July 29 at 11am PST.  Sabryna will be making a donation to the church in Karen's name for this ceremony.

Sabryna is working directly with the funeral home and handling the technical aspects of the virtual viewing of the funeral as well as organizing the following virtual reception and celebration of life, and will be paying for all associated costs directly from the funds in this account.

We are also researching another way to honor Karen, a place for her friends and family to visit her, funds of which Sabryna will pull from this go fund me account to cover. 

Sabryna will be working with Desirée Finigan, Assistant Director of Development at LMU (who is also a friend of and Sorority sister of Karen) to establish a scholarship in Karen's name at Loyola Marymount University for a deserving student.  Renie, Lana, Karen and Sabryna will work with Des to find and choose this person, someone with a similar background to Karen.  Sabryna will be withdrawing the funds from this account to give to the scholarship.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions as to how your donations will be used.  We love Karen beyond words and will ensure that your donations are used to help Karen and honor Karen for years to come.

Best,
Sabryna, Kristy and Lana