Karen Sue Petersen

Karen Sue Petersen, "Normie", passed away Tuesday afternoon, May 12 after a 10 year battle with breast cancer in Santa Cruz, CA at the age of 58. Born in Henderson, NV, she was raised in Saratoga, had the opportunity to fall in love with France one summer as a high school student, lived in San Jose and in 1986 she found her dream house, a beautiful Victorian, where she built a life for her family. She attended San Jose State University, received a Masters Nuclear Engineering and an M.B.A. Her first job out of college was at The GE plant before she moved to become a manufacturing manager at Sun Microsystems until she left to pursue her passion for food and writing. She reviewed restaurants for The Good Times and was in the process of self-publishing a cook book under the name the Lean Chef geared toward healthy living. As a young woman she was a past Honored Queen of Job's Daughters Bethel 280 Saratoga, held records in high school track and field, and enjoyed sewing her own clothes. In Santa Cruz she was a mother and a sister to those in need in her community, an avid local sports fan and had held the title of Beer Meister for the local chapter of the Hash House Harriers. She is survived by her husband of 12 years, Richard, her children, Alex and Karalynn, her parents Kay and Ron and her sisters Sandra and Debra. The memorial services will be held at the Pacific Gardens Chapel at 2:30 pm on Saturday, May 23rd. The women are invited to wear red dresses in her honor. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to WomensCARE in her honor.