Obituary for
Karen Borselli Gibbs
Karen Borselli Gibbs, following a mighty battle with cancer, has gone home to God. She was 59 and was born in January 1957. Karen passed peacefully in her sleep on September 23rd at home with her husband, George and her two children, Cameron and Valerie, at her bedside.
Karen loved the desert and was a strong volunteer with Albuquerque’s Open Space Division. In fact on February 24, 2012, in a ceremony in his office, Mayor Richard Berry proclaimed that day “Karen Gibbs Day” in the city of Albuquerque. That same day the Department of Parks and Recreation, in an additional proclamation by Mayor Berry, named Karen “Employee of the Week”—which was a special exception since Karen was not an “Employee.”
Karen also loved Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church and OLA’s school where she served as school librarian. On August 23, 2016, in a special tribute to Karen’s years of service, Father Edward Domme, along with school principal Robert Kaiser, rededicated the library as the “Karen B. Gibbs Library.”
Karen’s heart went out to children suffering with cancer. She ran the Mathathon program at OLA where she collected funds to support the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. She was invited by the St. Jude Hospital to come to Memphis to be honored with others from around the country.
Karen was an avid bicycler and was strongly involved with both the boy scouts and girl scouts as her children advanced through the ranks while attending OLA school. She worked with members of Cameron’s Boy Scout troop on the bicycle merit badge which included bicycle safety and a series of ten and 20 mile rides culminating in a single 50-mile ride (which was done at least twice). In addition, over the course of several years, she led her family on five 200-mile bike rides throughout different parts of New Mexico.
In addition to her husband and children, Karen is survived by her sister, Sharon Hunnicutt and husband, Tim; her brothers, Greg Borselli and wife, Sheri and Larry Borselli all of the Phoenix area; five nieces and nephews; nine aunts and uncles; and 31 cousins.
Karen was preceded in death by her father, Arthur Borselli and mother, Genevieve Borselli.
Friends may visit Sunday, October 2, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at FRENCH – Lomas. The reciting of the Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. followed by a celebration of the Mass at 11:00 a.m., Monday, October 3, 2016, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, Lomas and Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor her with a donation to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Though you are “gone from our sight” Karen, we know you are now truly home.
FRENCH - Lomas
10500 Lomas Blvd. NE
(505) 275-3500
