Karen Jean Dennis, 68, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, after a valiant battle with metastatic breast cancer. Her devotion to her family and her unwavering belief in God supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace.

Karen was born to the late Eugene Meehan and the late Vivian Meehan, in Long Island, New York on Sept. 13, 1951.

Karen was blessed with a large and loving family. She married her best friend, William Dennis on April 11, 1987, in Paso Robles. Karen raised her two children and five step-children with patience, discipline and a strong love of the Lord. She taught them to cook and clean, to implement healthy living through religion, exercise and clean eating. She believed that obedience to God through all things was the key to happiness here on Earth. From the very beginning, she dedicated herself to her children and thus dedicating her children to the Lord. She encouraged and guided them to learn the beauty of the Gospels and in turn live lives filled with love and grace.

Karen was an educator at heart. She taught Sunday school classes for many years at Christian Life Center and First Baptist Church. She retired from Paso Robles School District, food services department in 2014. She taught her children, family members and church family the meaning and impact of God’s love. Karen was a prayer warrior, so many members of our community have benefited from her daily ministrations of prayer. She is dearly missed by her loved ones who celebrate the fact that she is at peace with her creator and that she is now an angel in God’s army.

Karen is survived by her husband, William Dennis, her two children, Lydia Lloyd and Gabriel Dibble; and her five step-children, Frank Dennis, Mark Dennis, Tim Dennis, Heather Furnari, and Jennifer Bigrigg. She is also survived by her brother Eugene Meehan, her sister, Darlene Silva and her niece Tiffany Neumann, great-niece Justice Neumann and great-nephew Ryder Neumann. Karen is survived by her 16 grandchildren, Sierra Lloyd, Emily Lloyd, Aurora Dibble, Baby boy Dibble (unborn), McKenna Dennis, Jacob Arvik, Jonathan Andrus, Miranda Bigrigg, Sharon Bigrigg, Michael Rogers, Dylan Rogers, Kaylie Rogers, Danyelle Dennis, Madison Furnari, Justine Furnari, Jasmine Furnari and her great-grandchildren, Aaron Jones, Jayden Andrus, Maxson Bigrigg, Kaia Arvik, Colton Smith and Zayleigh Bigrigg.

Karen’s celebration of life will be held on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. at The First Baptist Church in Paso Robles, where she was a long-time member. The services will be officiated by Pastor Mike German of First Baptist Church and Pastor Guy Drummond of Christian Life Center.