Karen Jean Holbrook McDonough, 84, of South Portland, Maine, peacefully passed away January 22, 2023, with her family by her side.

She was born to the late William T. and Vera Holbrook, August 10, 1938, in Portland, Maine. Karen graduated from South Portland High School in 1956 and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Gorham State Teachers College in 1961.  After graduation, she worked at the New England Telephone Company prior to raising her family.

Karen is survived by her three children: John (Elizabeth) McDonough, of Greenville, South Carolina; Lynn (Ronald) Page, of Pittsboro, North Carolina; and Susan (Ron) Reich, of Benson, North Carolina.  She is also survived by her nine grandchildren (Chelsea, Haley, Madeline, Bailey, Jessica, Ryan, Patrick, Blaine, and Emily), her two sisters, Judith (Bob) Kelley, of South Portland, Maine, and Deborah (Joe) Conley, of The Villages, Florida, her former spouse John F. McDonough of Scarborough, Maine, and several loving nieces and nephews.

Karen was known for her quick wit, her sense of humor, and her engaging conversation.  She was an avid reader who loved to travel and see new places.  Her favorite local venues were Willard Beach, Two Lights, and Bug Light (the birthplace of her father), all located on the southern coast of Maine.  A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, she enjoyed working with her sisters discovering family genealogy.  She was an avid cross-stitcher, and a sports enthusiast who especially loved watching the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots.

The funeral will be held on January 27th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Hobbs Funeral Home, 671 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, Maine 04074, followed by a private graveside service at Brooklawn Memorial Park in Portland, Maine. The family asks that people make donations in support of stroke research (American Heart Association, Brain Research Foundation, and the Stroke Foundation have spent decades researching to better understand strokes.) in lieu of sending flowers.