Karen A (Cunningham) Yarmalovicz

Karen Yarmalovicz, 66, of Lakeville, MA, passed away on Monday, April 6th at the McCarthy Care Center hospice facility in East Sandwich after a seven-month battle with cancer.

During her battle, Karen remained remarkably optimistic and positive, showcasing incredible strength during the many challenges she faced.

Karen was a first-grade teacher for 26 years at the Mitchell Elementary School in Bridgewater before her retirement in 2024. In the second grade, Karen decided she wanted to be a teacher. She called teaching first grade at the Bridgewater school her "dream job."

Karen brought a positive spirit and upbeat attitude to teaching and everything else in life.

She found joy in life's simplest pleasures, whether it was reading a good book, discovering a new local coffee shop, taste testing the new beers at the local brewery with her daughter, Megan, or spending time on her screened-in back porch with her husband, Steve.

She was grateful to be part of a close-knit family of four sisters and a brother and cherished the time she was able to spend with them and their families.

Above all else, Karen will be remembered for her optimism and kindness, which had a profound impact on so many people.

Karen was born in Boston, the daughter of the late John F. and Margaret M. Cunningham. She grew up in Rockland and Weymouth, graduating from Weymouth South High School in 1977.

Karen earned both her undergraduate and master's degrees from Bridgewater State College.

In addition to her husband, Steve, she is survived by her daughter, Megan, and her fiancé Andrew Miller of Malden, four sisters, Linda M. Cunningham of Onset, Diane M. Catania and her husband, James, of East Bridgewater, Carolyn A. Russo and her husband, Todd, of Abington, and Michele M. Donehey and her husband, Frederick, of Medford, sister-in-law, Joan Danieli and her husband Stephen of Mansfield; and many cherished nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Brian F. Cunningham of Quincy, and the beloved daughter-in-law of the late Stephen and Jennie Yarmalovicz..

Visiting hours are from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at the Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home, 280 Bedford St., Lakeville. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 17, at St. John Neumann Church, 157 Middleboro Road, East Freetown.

Burial will be private at a later date.

Karen died from sarcoma, a rare disease that accounts for less than 1 percent of the adult cancer cases in the United States.

To help with the effort to combat sarcoma and other types of cancer, donations in Karen's memory can be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284, or online at dana-farber.org/gift.

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