KAREN KELLY-BEITH

Karen Kelly-Beith, 69, of Campton Hills, IL, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, July 5, 2024.  She was born on February 17, 1955, to proud parents, James and Kathryn Kelly (nee Riepl) in Elgin, IL.

Karen grew up in Elgin, Il. and attended St. Mary’s Grade School, graduating from St. Edward’s Catholic High School in Elgin, IL class of 1973.  From a young age, Karen was a lover and protector of all of God’s creatures.  Her favorite saint was St. Francis of Assisi who is the patron saint of animals. It was a regular occurrence for Karen to bring home animals in need of rehabilitation and nurse them back to health.  She once hatched a duck from an egg who followed her around until she released it into the wild. Karen had been talking about wanting a horse for quite a while. Her parents said, if you want a horse then you’ll have to buy one, which is exactly what she did. At age 14, Karen brought a horse whom she lovingly named, “Kelly’s Irish Whiskey” and could often be seen riding through the streets of Elgin. She has a lifelong love of birds, especially her cockatoo, Foghorn. 

After graduating from High School, Karen moved to Europe and lived in Germany and the Greek isles. Upon her return, Karen met the love of her life and her future husband Bill in Elgin, IL at a party that neither of them had wanted to attend. They went on their first date on July 4, 1976, and married on May 13, 1978 in the First Congregational Church in Elgin, IL. 

She attended and graduated from Aurora University in the late 90’s earning a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in social work. She was a Social Worker at Elgin Mental Health Center, working with the civil and forensic patient populations for the next 25 years, retiring in 2017.  Concurrent with working at Elgin, she proudly volunteered for 14 years for the Fox Valley Hospice.  Her caring and compassionate nature was not lost on the patients she worked with. Karen was able to help bring peace to patients as they entered their final stages of life.

Karen served as Co-Chair of the William Beith House preservation committee Restorations of Kane County that fund raised to save the 1850 structure, and established the Beith House in St. Charles as a museum and placed it on the National Register of Historic Places.

Her biggest animal love was her dachshunds.  She was the Vice President of the West Burb Wieners, a dachshund rescue.  Karen could often be found at the rescue’s fundraisers entering her beloved Gertie in the Weenie Races, and cheered on by her other adopted wiener Beau.  Her collection of Weenie Dogs was in the hundreds and was once displayed at the Elburn Library. Her many friends loved to find the perfect Weenie gift for her.  Karen and Bill rescued several dogs of various ages, and invariably gave each of them a home filled with love and affection.

A large part of Karen’s time and energy was dedicated to her love of photography. She was engaged by several national music magazines to photograph concerts and their backstage productions. This allowed her to meet numerous famous musicians, notable among them were Ringo, Paul, Keith Emerson and Joni Mitchell.

She was a special, free-spirited woman, gifted in so many ways.  She never stopped seeking a challenge to enhance her artistic ability.  Karen’s eye for photographic composition transferred itself when she immersed herself in the art of glass fusion.  She created everyday use objects (bowls, platters and center pieces) as well as purely artistic explorations of form and function. She was always looking for the next adventure.

Karen had an innate ability to make others feel welcome wherever she was.  From the annual 4^th of July party celebrating her first date with Bill, to Christmas Eve with 40 immediate family members, Karen was truly a gracious hostess to all who attended. Her sense of entertaining style and presentation allowed everyone to feel loved and accepted in the midst of the celebration. 

Karen loved with all of her heart, she was a wise counsel to anyone seeking it, and she possessed a serene and sweet spirit that made one feel instantly at ease.  She will be desperately missed.  May her light continue to shine on us and inspire us to always be there to reach out and help those in need.

Karen leaves behind her beloved husband of 46 years, William (Bill) Beith, her siblings; Mary Kay, Patrick (Nancy), Mike (Jeanne), Maureen (Paul), Tim, Sheila, and John (Tracey), her son-in-law, Brian (Paige) Sweeney, her cherished grandchildren; Grace, Gretchen, Gabby, and Nolan, and a whole family of friends.

Karen is reunited with her parents, James and Kathryn Kelly, her daughter, Becky Sweeney, her in-laws, George and Betty Beith, and her brother-in-law, William Forkell.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 12:00p.m. to 2:00p.m. at Conley Funeral Home in Elburn, IL.   A remembrances service will be held starting at 2:00p.m., also at Conley Funeral Home, which will be a time for family and friends to share their favorite memories of Karen.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in her name to benefit The Beith House, Garfield Farm, and the Fineline glass studio. Checks may be made to the “ KKB Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com.