Karen B. Geschwindt

Karen B. Geschwindt, 61, of Downingtown, passed away the morning of Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Bryn Mawr Hospital.  She was the daughter of the late Irving R. Geschwindt and Mary Rizzardi Geschwindt.

Karen graduated in 1976 from Downingtown High School and went onto earn her BS degree in Clinical Chemistry from West Chester University. She worked for 37 years for Quest Diagnostics as their Sr. Software Quality Assurance Anaylist

Karen was a world traveller.  Her gregarious personality enabled her to make friends wherever she visited - Cuba, Israel, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, France, England, Italy, Austria, Budapest, the Czech Republic, as well as Alaska and the American Southwest. She loved taking the bus to New York City twice a year with her niece Lisa to see Broadway shows and museums. Her most beloved city of all was Paris.

Karen had an incredible sense of humor and was devoted to her friends but especially to her nieces and nephews. She was a second mother to Lisa and Bill. She was the 'fun' aunt. She always remembered everyone's birthday with a card and a gift.

Karen was a voracious reader, often having more than 15 books checked out from the library at any one time. She volunteered at the Downingtown Library and then became a part-time employee from 2018 until the fall of 2019.

Karen was an accomplished musician.  She played the piano accompaniment for the high school musical My Fair Lady, which was her most challenging and proud accomplishment on the piano. She played the clarinet in the high school concert band and the alto sax in the high school marching band. As an adult, Karen took violin lessons. She loved the Sound of Music, went on the Sound of Music tour in Austria and went to the movie showings where she dressed up like one of the characters.

Karen was a creative cook and seamtress. She sewed her own clothes in high school and did beautiful counted cross stitch samplers and pillows. She was always trying new recipes and brought interesting gourmet desserts and dishes to family parties. She loved longaberger baskets and was a longaberger consultant at one time, making several bus trips to the factory in Ohio.

Karen loved all animals but cats most of all. Her two kitties, Dixie and Donna,  were kindly adopted by a neighbor.

Karen loved everything Mid-Century modern, Kate Spade, Hello Kitty, Beekman 1802, Amazon, Dr. Who, Russell Crowe, Downton Abbey, Instacart and Asher's chocolate covered pretzels.

Karen's favorite restaurant was Bamboo in Frazer, Pa. where every year we celebrated her birthday lunch.

Karen was a member of Longwood Gardens, Winterthur Museum and the Brandywine River Museum.

Karen was a member of St. Joseph's parish in Downingtown and was a member of the Legion of Mary.

Karen is survived by her sister Sue Wimble (Ed), her sister Lauren Leisner (Andy), her brother Brian (Judy) and her brother Jamie (Laura), 8 neices and nephews - Lisa Wimble Mangialardi, Bill Wimble,  Will Leisner, Drew Leisner, Mary Geschwindt, Molly Geschwindt, Meaghan Geschwindt and Laura-Joelle Geschwindt, 3 great nephews -  Teddy Wimble, Kevin Wimble and Beau Wimble. Karen also leaves behind her 'work' family and her 'Beekman' family, all who loved her dearly.

Karen is predeceased by her mother, Mary Geschwindt and her father, Irving Geschwindt.

A Visitation will be held for Karen on Friday evening January 31, 2020 from 6 to 8 PM at the James J. Terry Funeral Home 736 E. Lancaster Ave. Downingtown. Her mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday February 1, 2020 at 10:30 AM from St. Joseph Church 338 Manor Ave Downingtown where a visitation will be held prior from 9 AM till 10:15.

Interment pvt.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Karen’s honor can be made to the Downingtown Library online at downingtownlibrary.org or by mailing to 122 Wallace Ave. Downingtown, Pa. 19335. 

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