Karen Anne Sharpe (22 Jan 1958 - 1 Nov 2015)

Karen Anne Booth was born on the 22nd January 1958 to Colin and Dora Booth at the City Hospital Nottingham. Colin her Father was a fireman on the railways, whilst her mother Dora worked for Boots. Karen was a twin to Kevin who was born 15 minutes later and she would frequently remind Kevin that she was his older sister. One of four children Karen has two more brothers, John and then Andrew.

Karen first school attended was Beech Avenue Infants in New Basford It was whilst living in New Basford they attended the New Basford Salvation Army. Colin recalls a strange phenomenon happening the Army at the time, where there were six sets of twins born around the same time.

In 1961 the family moved to Cotgrave, where Karen and her Younger Brother Kevin Attended Manvers Infants, now Candleby Lane School.

Karen and her brothers did their growing up in and around the Cotgrave Area and if anyone would challenge or attempt to bully any one of her brothers, Karen would come to the rescue, in fact on one occasion when one of her brothers did get bullied, Karen went straight round to the bully’s house and whilst he was eating his tea at the table she went straight in and gave him a punch, we don’t think her brothers had much trouble after that.
Moving into secondary school Karen attended Toothill School in Bingham, it was at this school Karen was instrumental in organising a pupil strike.

The Family holidays were mostly spent at Mundesley on Sea Holiday camp or Perranporth Cornwall, on one family holiday there were 34 of them…

Karen was blessed with many talents, along with excelling at English she loved art and was in fact given an award for her art work

And then there was her music, Karen loved her music and was an accomplished musician, playing Cornet, Percussion, Guitar, Keyboard and achieved grade 8 on the piano. Karen was also awarded a diploma in trumpet and percussion. Playing for both Ilkeston Brass band and Cotgrave colliery band, Karen along with her fellow musicians raised a lot of many for different charities, in particular into leukaemia research, as this was a charity close to her heart.
Again just to show you what a sense of humour Karen had, at her first rehearsal for Ilkeston Brass, she was seated next to Bob Taylor not recognised for his sense of humour, Karen was playing the trombone, so whilst lubricating her slide she pointed her squirter at Bob and got him in the face, Colin tells me no one else would have got away with it, Karen and Bob became best of buddies.

Karen was also a Football Fan, her team was Man UTD…but would often be found at Forest, standing on her own milk crate she would be passionate about the game, again on one occasion Colin was hurling some abuse at one of the players when a guy came to the defence of the player and started to yell abuse at Colin, again Karen to the rescue, Don’t you dare speak to my father like that, all around were very amused, such a big noise coming from such a little thing.

After leaving Toothill Karen attended South Notts College to do her A levels, as she wanted to train as a nursery nurse, in fact Karen got a job in America as a Nursery nurse, but sadly didn’t work out and she was home in just a few months.

On her return to Nottingham, Karen set up the first Nursery in South Nott’s college and sealed a senior position there.
Karen also Attended Clarendon College training in music and as mentioned achieved great success.
In 1986 Karen met Paul at Cotgrave Christian Fellowship, where she attended with her Mum Dora and also where Karen could show off her Musical talents and could change instruments from week to week. It was at this time Karen made a decision to let Jesus be a part of her life.

Karen also made another important decision and so Karen and Paul were married on the 21st May 1988 at Wellin lane church by Garry MacShane the leader of Cotgrave church.

Before she married Paul, Karen was in Margate doing some Nurse training, it was here she was first poorly, she was diagnosed with an over active thyroid, and received continual treatment for it, as ever she never complained, she just got on with stuff. As Part of her ongoing treatment, Karen had large doses of radiotherapy, which meant she would for certain become infertile, but guess what? In September 1992 Karen and Pauls bundle of joy came along when Rupert was born to them. A Miracle Baby…

Sadly in the 1990’s Karen’s health was to deteriorate. Karen was diagnosed with immune deficiency diseases, this would be the start of numerous trips to London to see specialists and also for stays in hospital. The Family, especially Paul fought hard so that Karen would receive only the best treatment available and together with the support of Cotgrave health centre, local nurse agencies and in no small part Dr Lewis who was not only Karen’s GP but also a faithful friend.

Again through her ordeal Karen wanted to maintain a normal and functioning family.
In 2002 Rupert took on a new sport, Ice Hockey and Karen would be found at the ice hockey arena, bundled up so you could just make out her eyes through the scarf and hat and big coat and of course her flask of tea, she wasn’t about to pay the ice stadiums prices.

Karen made some great friends, but in particular Wendy whose son Nathan was also a Ice hockey player, Wendy has remained very close, and who Paul and the family would like to thank from the bottom of their hearts for your kindness and support.

She also traveled away to watch Rupert, Bristol, London, Grimsby, Sheffield and even as far as Denmark.
Karen loved to go shopping, Eat out, Visit Family, Friends, Pauls description of her is simply this Karen had an irrepressible spirit, she never complained although she had just cause, always deflected sympathy back to you, I hear you haven’t been well, I’m ok how are you doing.

In 2010 Karen was diagnosed with yet another condition, osteo-arthritis again another setback, but with her irrepressible spirit and the support of her family and great health care, she carried on.

The final blow came in 2014 diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and spreading to the liver, trips to Royal Free Hospital in London became second nature. Receiving the very best, in fact the Gold Standard Treatment in January 2015 she was told, there was nothing else they could do.

Karen passed away Just before 5am on Sunday 1st November, No Fuss Just peace, Pauls comment “Spectacularly Understated”

Karen leaves behind a loving family, and some great friends, her grandson Conner, I know will miss his Mama, her final wish was that she would see Christmas and see the new arrival of Rupert and Stacy, sadly it wasn’t to be.