Obituary of Karen Lynn Fortunato

Karen Lynn Fortunato, age 61, on Thursday, November 4, 2021. Karen Lynn (O’Loughlin) Fortunato was born August 11, 1960 in Rockaway Beach, Queens, New York, to Thomas O’Loughlin and Kathleen Jane (Evans) O’Loughlin. Karen was predeceased by her parents Thomas & Jane, her aunt Peggy, and her “brother” (cousin), Ronald Coyne. She is survived by her four daughters, Anna, Raquel, Niccole, and Stephenie, her 10 siblings, Maureen, Joey, twin sister Patty, Lizi, Nancy, Mary, Tracey, Donna, Margaret, and Theresa, the father and co-mother of her children, Stephen and Elizabeth, and her son-in-laws, Joshua and Dane, along with many others. Karen was a free spirit with a deep passion for the arts. She earned her degree in Theater Arts in 1982, and received the Periwinkle National Theater Award in the same year. She enjoyed stage acting and singing, playing the flute, as well as painting, drawing, photography, and even puzzles, playing cards, and basketball. She loved film and television and was an old-Hollywood aficionado. She loved a good cup of coffee, a late night nosh, and the company of her family and friends. She gave 100% to everything she did. She shared and expressed her love without judgement or shame. Her hugs would quite literally take your breath away, from how tight she would hold you. She was always willing to donate her time, energy, and good fortune to those in need. She lived a life of service to others and became fast friends to anyone she came into contact with. Karen loved her four daughters more than anything in the world. They were the lights of her life and her true pride and joy. She championed them in anything they chose to do. They were her greatest achievements in this life, and she would boast about them to everyone she met. Karen played the role of a lifetime; a loving mother, sister, friend, wife, companion, and human being. Her soul pure, her smile infectious, and her laughter contagious. She will be sorely missed and forever remembered. “I have no desire to prove anything by dancing…I just dance.” — Fred Astaire Calling hours will be Thursday, November 11th from 2-4 & 7-9PM at Towers Funeral Home Inc., 2681 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY. Flowers are appreciated and donations can be made to the International Society for Bipolar Disorder (ISBD.org)