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KAREN HARDING
It is with a broken and heavy heart that we share the news of Karen (Kimberley) Patricia Harding's passing on Sunday, April 5, 2026. She was surrounded by her daughter, Courtney and son-in-law, Earl. Karen passed suddenly and unexpectedly from deteriorating COPD and Covid-19.
Kimberley was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to parents Robert Vallance and Donna Seavers on November 27, 1954. Although she was born "Karen", to everyone else she was Kim or Kimmie. She loved to tell the story of how she was named, being born on Grey Cup day, and her dad naming her Karen on her birth certificate unbeknownst to her mother. From a young age, she loved music. She grew up in a musical family, with her mother playing the piano and her brother playing the guitar. One of her favorite things to do was to sing and play guitar alongside friends and family. That love of music continued to grow and guide her throughout her lifetime. Her favorites were The Beatles, Rod Stewart and Elvis Presley. In particular, she had one song of Rod Stewart that inspired her in adulthood - "Never Give Up on a Dream".
Kim met her first husband, Jim at 17 years of age. They fell fast and hard and were married shortly after. Kim gained three beautiful children - Shari, Mark and Karen. Their son Jamie came into their lives several years later. And then finally, her "miracle" daughter Courtney. Kim's love of her family was immense. She loved to cook and experiment with new recipes. Holidays were always a time for gathering, huge meals and lots of love.
Kim and Jim parted ways after many years of marriage. She then met and fell in love with her second husband, Thomas, which took her to Long Island, NY. Kim was proud to gain two more beautiful children, Thomas and Nicole. All of her children were the light of her life, near and far. She would do everything she could for her family. Her love was unwavering.
In 2018, Kim and Thomas relocated to Florida to be closer to their grandchildren. Then in 2019, Courtney moved down to join them. Kim was so happy, and her other children came down to visit. Kim loved to travel back to Canada when able to catch up with family and her dearest friend of 45 years, Joannie. Even from a whole country away, she kept the family close together. Family was everything to her.
Kim was always a hippie at heart. She was known for her love of tie dye and round John Lennon glasses. She took pride in always looking and feeling her best. Kimmie had so much love to share and would do whatever she could to help friends and family in need. There was no end to the love for her family and friends. One of her great joys later in life was volunteering at Cornerstone Church in Deltona, Florida. She loved working the food pantry and setting up for Sunday School.
Taken from Rod Stewart's "Forever Young":
'May the good Lord be with you down every road you roam And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you're far from home And may you grow to be proud, dignified and true And do unto others as you'd have done to you Be courageous and be brave And in my heart you'll always stay Forever young'
Kim will be missed by so many. To say she had an impact on so many lives is an understatement. She loved fiercely and unconditionally.
Kimmie is survived by her children Shari (George), Mark (Tracy), Karen (James), Jamie, Courtney (Earl), Thomas (Destiny), Nicole (Ben) and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, along with her former husband Jim and her siblings Carl (Richelle), Craig (Veegee), Bradley, Alana, and Alison (John). She is predeceased by her husband Thomas, her mother Donna, father Robert, stepfather Ernie, and brothers Jack and Gord.
There will be a celebration of life on Saturday, May 30 from 12-4 p.m. at Lohman Funeral Home in Deltona, Florida, located at 1681 Providence Blvd.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 25, 2026