Karen Elaine McDonnell Fontaine passed away on January 3, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Karen shared more than 63 beautiful years with the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Robert “Bob” Ward Fontaine.Their story was truly a textbook love affair—one rooted in devotion, loyalty, and enduring love.

She was predeceased by her adopted parents, Edward and Evelyn McDonnell, and her sisters, Claire and Bernice, all of Brockton, Massachusetts. She is survived by her siblings, Victor, Beverly, and Anne.

Karen and Bob were the proud parents of three children, who were the center of their lives: Robert Ward Fontaine II (Kerry), Lisa Marie Fontaine Carson, and Mark Edward Fontaine (Jennifer). Their children blessed them with 15 grandchildren: Melissa, Elizabeth (Dexter), Brandon (Jillian), Robert III (Tori), Quenton, Nicholas (Rachel), Aiden, Matthew, Nicolette, (Pedro) Grant (Alex), Gracie, Christian (Audriana), Chandler (Brianna), Cameron, and Victoria. They were further blessed with 19 great-grandchildren—Shae, Cohin, Chance, Anthonie, Jacob, Amelia, Olivia, Victoria, Eleanor, Flynn, Ryder, Nidina, Fisher, Charlie, Marco, Camila, Jordy, Nico, Scottie—and one other great-grandchild on the way.

Karen was a dedicated career nurse, spending much of her professional life on the Heart Team at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, and later serving as an Operating Room Manager at Palm Bay Hospital. Her compassion, leadership, and commitment to patient care left a lasting impact on all who worked with her.

She was deeply devoted to her faith and her church family at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne, where she formed friendships she held sacred. Karen loved to travel, was an avid cruiser, and greatly enjoyed RV life. Yet above all else, her greatest joy was her husband Bob, her family—whom she was endlessly devoted to—and the lifelong friendships she carried with her from childhood.

Karen was a remarkable woman: a loving wife, devoted mother, cherished grandmother and great-grandmother, aunt, and loyal friend. To simply say she will be missed does not begin to capture the depth of her absence or the legacy of love she leaves behind.