SMITHFIELD – Karen Darlene Foster, 74, of Smithfield, passed away suddenly on Aug. 11, 2023, in Portland.

Karen was born Jan. 4, 1949, in Waterville, daughter of the late Ruth Bickford. She graduated from Madison High School in 1967. Karen received her associate degree from Kennebec Valley Community College.

Karen was first and foremost a loving and devoted wife and partner to her husband and first love, Carlton Foster Sr. Her unwavering kindness and support to Carlton in a painful and lengthy illness is remarkable and marvelous. Karen was known as the mitten lady to many because of her love to knit and crochet mittens. In addition to mittens, she made beautiful blankets that will continue to bring her family warmth in her memory.

Karen loved birds, especially hummingbirds and cardinals, and enjoyed watching them from the windows of her home and had a great fondness for snowman images and displayed them prominently around her house.

Karen also devoted much of her time and energy to supporting the community that she loved. She worked at the polls during elections and would put all of her earnings back into the community by distributing gift bags to children in need and placing accent light around the cemetery to illuminate the gravesites. She illuminated the people around her and will be missed by all she shone her light upon.

She is survived by her three children, daughter, Kitti and husband Maurice Caron of Merrimack, N.H., daughter, Kelli and husband Michael Roy of Norridgewock, son, Carlton and wife Helene Foster, Jr. of Yorktown Heights, N.Y.; and her eight grandchildren, Athena and husband Chris Piccolo of Merrimack, N.H. and Alexis Rondeau of Nashua, N.H., Amanda Roy of Lewiston, Michael Roy II and Abigail Roy of Skowhegan, Jacob, Michael and Robert Foster of White Plains, N.Y.

A Celebration of Life will be held graveside at Village Cemetery in Smithfield on Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be followed by a reception at the Foster’s residence at 41 Mt. Tom Road.

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