Karen L. McElroy

Karen L. McElroy, 72 of Waymart, PA passed away on August 24, 2024 surrounded by her family after an illness.

Karen leaves behind her beloved husband of 46 years, Daniel A. McElroy, Sr. and her 9 children, son, Kevin Zintel and wife, Brenda Zintel, daughter, Stacie Allen and husband Robert Allen, son, Daniel A. McElroy, Jr., son, Kenneth Zintel, daughter, Beth McElroy-Smith and husband, James Smith, son Jay McElroy and wife, Erin McElroy, son, Troy McElroy, son, Terry McElroy and companion Sara Petrini, daughter, Keri Knecht and husband, Dale Knecht, and family friend, Dawn Cobb.

Karen was born on April 29, 1952 in Naples, Italy. She left Naples Italy in January 1954 with her two brothers, John and Dave aboard the SS Hodges to New York. She was the daughter of the late Retired Navy SKC John S. and Freida Matoushek Drobnicki. She is survived by her siblings, Brother, Retired Air Force Master Sgt. John Drobnicki and Companion, Jane Howell, Brother, Retired Army Captain, Dave Drobnicki and Companion, Sue Paradise, sister Cheryl Drobnicki Connolly, brother, Former Marine Sgt., Robert Drobnicki and his late wife Margie Drobnicki, and sister, Sandra Connolly and husband, Retired Major U.S. Army, Patrick Connolly.

Karen also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Jessica, Tristan, Kevin, Dustin, Autumn, Ty, Shania, Dominick, Peyton, Piper, Devon, Larissa, Hailey, Destiny, Vedder, Ksxenia, Quintin, Robin, Judah, Reina, Uriah, Scarlett, Iah, Shannon and Bridgette as well as her great grandchildren, Kayleona, Tyler, Elaina, Carter, Elijah, Jayden, Matthew, Leo, Xander, Jaxson, Leilana, Ariana, Jaylynn, Raelynn, Tinsley, Shelby, Adrianna and Caiden. and soon to be Great, Great Grandchild, "Little Man" who we are all waiting to meet. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

Karen was a Waymart native and a graduate of Waymart High School Class of 1970. She played basketball and was one of the top students in her class. She worked briefly at Waymart Knitting Company until she had her family and became a homemaker and full-time mother. She loved her husband and family and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren leaving a void her family cannot fill.

Karen was a pillar of the Community and loved to keep busy. She was a Political Committee Member and enjoyed working as a poll watcher. She would also donate her time to St. Mary's Church, alongside her children, from helping make quilts for the annual bingo's to helping with the Church's bazaars with her late grandmother, Margaret Matoushek. She also was a CCD teacher and a part of the Waymart Legion's Lady's Auxiliary and a charter member of the new forming Simpson VFW 4712 Auxiliary. She came from an extensive military family. Her late father, retired Navy SKC John S. Drobnicki and three of his bothers fought in World War II. With military careers leading to several of her brothers and family members.

Karen also had a love for baking and being creative. Her and her husband, Daniel, would spend hours creating gifts for all occasions for their children and grandchildren. Karen also loved to crochet baby blankets for every new baby born into the family. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening from vegetables to flowers. She also had a love for birds and enjoyed collecting bird knick knacks. She also had a love for animals. She enjoyed all her cats and her children's dogs as well as all their ducks, chickens and turkeys.

Karen loved to go to concerts at Bethel Woods (Original Woodstock) with her husband and family and reminisce about her childhood and days at Woodstock.

Karen's love and friendship encompassed all aspects of her life. From long phone calls with friends and family to joint family outings, family reunions, class reunions to outdoor adventures and more. To know her was to love her. She never passed judgment and was always accepting of others and compassionate. her passing will forever effect her family. She will be greatly missed and loved by her family and everyone that knew her.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 6, 2024 at 10:00 AM in St. Mary's Church, 242 Honesdale Road, Waymart, PA with Rev. Joseph Sitko and Deacon Edward Kelly officiating.

Interment will be in The Waymart Cemetery at Canaan Corners.

Arrangements and cremation are entrusted to Howell Family Funeral Home, Inc., Edward R. Howell, Funeral Director, 269 Belmont Street, Waymart, PA 18472. www.HowellFamilyFuneralHome.com