Karen (Whittemore) Heathman

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Karen Heathman Whittemore on August 28,2022 (One day before her 80th birthday) after several brave years battling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Karen passed away peacefully at a “Gramma’s House” in Napa, CA at the age of 79 with her husband of 56 years nearby.

Karen is survived by her husband Jack Whittemore; her 3 children Heath Whittemore, Lynn Whittemore Bonfilio, Wendy deGroot; her daughter-in-law Reyna Whittemore and son in law Dirk deGroot : her 6 grandchildren Kinsley and Brody Bonfilio, Jack and Ashlee Whittemore, Cole and Hailey deGroot; and her sister Barb Fondren and brother-in-law Bill Fondren. She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and Harry Heathman and her sister Carole Novak.

Karen was born on August 29, 1942 to Ruth and Harry Heathman in Idaho Falls, ID. Karen graduated from St. Louis University with a degree in history in 1965.  Shortly after on January 22,1966 she married the love of her life, John Whittemore.  In the early years of their marriage Karen was a grade school teacher in Indiana, before their life took them on a different path to Napa Valley, CA, where they raised their family. 

Karen was an accomplished and devoted stay at home mother to three children.  She taught her children to focus on the important things in life:  faith, family, and friends.  Karen loved to play tennis at Silverado in her early years and then golf in her later years, with her friends and family. Her card games at the La Quinta Country Club with the girl’s group was amongst her favorite activities.  She had a natural talent for cooking and  had an expert eye for interior design. Which turned out to be a good thing, as she had a lot of practice with all their moves within their three favorite locations; Napa, La Quinta and Bend, Oregon. She is fondly remembered by her husband, children and grandchildren as a kind, witty, smart, gentle, patient, and driven, while always encouraging and assisting her children to pursue their dreams and goals.

A celebration of life funeral service will be held at St Apollinaris Church, 3700 Lassen St Napa, CA 94558, on Saturday September 17th at 11:00 am. A reception will follow at the Watermark at Napa Valley @ 4055 Solano Ave Napa, CA. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association to help fight Alzheimer’s disease.

url:  https://alz.org/act

The family would like to express our sincere and deepest thanks to the caregivers and staff at the Watermark at Napa Valley and Gramma’s House for the love and care that was provided to Karen over the last 2 years.

Luke 23:43  

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

John 14: 1-3

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also

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