Karen Anne Powell (7 Mar 1961 - 8 Sep 2025)

In loving memory of Karen Anne Powell, who sadly passed away on 8th September 2025.

Karen was a much loved mum to her two daughters, Teri-Jayne and Danni, and a cherished nan to Lilly, Lacey and Lenny. Best friend and partner in crime to Julie Millard. Absolute shopaholic and probably one of Temu's Top 5 customers. An astute bargain hunter and avid seller on Vinted. She loved a good charity shop and enjoyed bootfairs and farmers markets. She was a huge Elvis fan and obsessed with cheese. The stronger and smellier, the better. She also acquired a love for travelling in her final years, and found her second home in Correlejo, Fuerteventura, along with many new friends.

Karen was born in Barnehurst and went to school at Bexley Tech during the 70s. She reunited with many of her former classmates in recent years and enjoyed attending meet ups. After leaving school, Karen worked in a solicitors until she had her first daughter, Teri-Jayne, in 1990. Danni followed in 1992 and Karen became a stay at home mum until 2008, when she became a care assistant at Shaftbury Court. In 2016, Karen was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and had bowel surgery. She was unable to return to Shaftbury afterwards, but went on to work at McColls at Slade Green until she was medically retired in 2021.

Karen fought a very long and hard battle with cancer, which became terminal whilst working at McColls. She was exceptionally brave, took on every treatment like a true champ and fought for every minute of her life after diagnosis. She was always so positive, even when the odds were stacked against her. She underwent specialist treatment to keep her cancer stable, which did the job for nearly six years - far longer than others also trialling the same treatment. In that time, she lived like she didn't have a care in the world! She was a loving and active nan, she was always out and about and she enjoyed many holidays, both solo and with her daughters and Julie. She just wanted to experience everything. Sadly, she didn't quite get it all in. But we will take her with us, everywhere we go. We will go to the places she dreamed of. We will honour her always.

We are incredibly proud to be Karen's daughters. We will miss her cheeky smile, her funny giggle, her flashy Christmas earrings and her texts after Slimming World, asking how terrible we did. You couldn't get a bigger champion - she attended dance recitals, football games, school plays, choir performances and she loved every minute. She made sure to celebrate us all. So, on Tuesday 30 September, we shall celebrate her.