Obituary of Karen W. DeHond

Karen Wadsworth DeHond, 81, of South Bristol, NY, passed away on April 18th, 2024, after a year of living with increasing complications from heart surgery, without one complaint. Karen was born on July 16th, 1942, in Albany, NY and she is predeceased by her parents, Henry Clinton Wadsworth and Marion Emrick Wadsworth. Living in the city for her first twelve years, the family moved to Cedar Hill and their beloved river home on the Hudson. Here she met the future love of her life, Glenn E. DeHond, in the seventh grade at Jericho Jr. High. Karen went on to study Dental Hygiene at Hudson Valley Community College, graduating in 1963. Upon college graduation, Karen and Glenn eloped to Keene, NH and moved to Rochester, NY for their first jobs. Karen enjoyed most of her career working with Dr. Edward Wentworth on Elmwood Avenue. In 1969, with the help of dear friends, Karen and Glenn built their own home in Honeoye Falls where they raised their two children, Michael and Deborah. Karen was a lifelong learner, voracious reader and had many hobbies from calligraphy to beekeeping. She was deeply involved in the community whether it was delivering meals for FISH, making posters for Band or Sports Boosters, or serving in many capacities at the First Presbyterian Church of Honeoye Falls, where she also met her lifelong women’s circle. When the kids went to middle school, Karen joined the Victor-Farmington Volunteer Ambulance as an EMT and later taught EMTs. But Karen’s passion and lasting legacy is her love of family. Not only her immediate family but her cousins and ancestors through the last 500+ years. She spent decades (often with reluctant child research assistants) combing through microfiche in libraries, headstones in old cemeteries and tracking down family elders and listening and recording their stories. Scores of relations are grateful for her tenacity in capturing and sharing centuries of family history and lore in eleven books that she self-published and distributed to relatives and libraries far and wide. Intimately connected with nature, Karen also savored a good adventure. She and Glenn camped in 48 of the 50 states, joined a 3-month RV caravan through Alaska in 2009 and she celebrated her 70th birthday by jumping out of an airplane. They both instilled a love of nature in their progeny, camping with their children and grandchildren every summer for over six decades. The last 23 years she immensely enjoyed their home overlooking the Canandaigua Lake valley, where deer, turkey, fox, hawk, coyote, owl, countless other birds and even eagle and bear serve up regular awe and wonder. Karen is remembered for her generosity, kindness, quick wit, and legendary storytelling. She absolutely adored her grandchildren, Jean-Robert (Jory), Andria, Mitchell and Brigitte. Karen wasn’t one to offer sage advice (unless it was on your current hairstyle or clothing choice) but rather passed along her wisdom through her actions in service to others. In addition to her grandchildren, Karen is survived by her best friend and husband, Glenn, her son, Michael (Susan) DeHond and her daughter, Deborah Denome. We will all miss her beyond measure. There will be a Celebration of Karen’s Life on Saturday, April 27th, at 11am at the First Congregational Church of Canandaigua, 58 N. Main St., Canandaigua, NY. If flowers are considered, Karen loved every plant in the Daisy family, from Dandelions to Sunflowers. Donations to your favorite charity would be preferred. To share a memory or express condolences online please visit www.fullerfh.com