Karen Marie Hossfeld

May 4, 1959 — February 20, 2022

Karen Marie Hossfeld, born May 4, 1959, passed away in her sleep Feb. 20, 2022 at her home in Oak Harbor, Wash.

Daughter of James and Nina Hossfeld, she was born in Providence, R.I., the fourth of five siblings. She grew up in San Diego, Calif.

Karen was in the first graduating class at Southwest High School in San Diego. She loved the culinary arts and attended the very first class in the Culinary Arts Institution of America at Mira Mesa College in San Diego and worked in the restaurant field as a sous-chef. She then turned her interest toward banking and liked analyzing the bank operations systems.

She married and lived in Italy for 10 years, where her two daughters were born. She moved back to the States and lived in Oak Harbor until her passing.

Karen had many jobs in Oak Harbor, from working as an application/operations analyst and online banking analyst at InterWest Bank; then as the pastoral assistant for administration at St. Augustine and St. Mary Mission Parish, while studying business management and accounting at Columbia University; to administrative assistant at the trust board of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve in Coupeville. Her most loved work was being the owner/operator and chef of her very own bakery (Kakies Bakery) on Pioneer Way. The business was there for only three years, but she was so happy to have had her lifelong wish to have her own bakery, if only for a short while. She then took some time off work and went back to school studying medical administration, insurance, billing and coding and graduated from Everest College with honors. Her last years were spent working for Island County in accounts payable and then as administrator/office manager in facilities. 

Karen is survived by her brothers, James Hossfeld, Jr. of San Diego and Frederick Hossfeld of Negros Oriental, Philippines; sisters, Maureen Edmond of San Diego and Dianne Varshock of Oak Harbor; daughters, Carmen and Dianne Tonini, both of Oak Harbor; and granddaughter Emily Quillen of Oak Harbor.

Karen was a very private person, loved her children and family and touched many people in her life. She enjoyed giving cooking lessons with friends and puzzling. Her favorite times were spent going camping on Orcas Island and at Deception Pass State Park, along with taking drives just to see different places. She especially loved baseball and seeing a good Mariners game. Karen will be greatly missed.

Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whideymemorial.com. There will be a funeral mass celebrating Karen’s life at St. Augustine Church. Please feel free to contact her family members for the date and time of the mass.