Obituary of Karen Liv Gonsalves

Karen Liv (Tande) Gonsalves, age 77, of Seminole, Florida passed away at home on January 28, 2022. Born in Brooklyn, New York. Karen graduated from Jamaica High School and studied at Queens College.

She was preceded in death by her Parents, Albert and Randi Tande, her Grandparents, Thorleif and Olga Straith, and her Husband Ed Gonsalves.

Karen is survived by her Brother John Tande and wife, Carol. Her Nieces Jennifer Fletcher (Mark), Jessica Funk, Renee Espich (Tim), Kristina Way (Terry), Michelle Angel, Great Niece Zoe Fletcher, and Cousins Arne Larsen (Chris), Harald Larsen, Grethe Tande, Arne Tande, Inger-Johanne Tande, Randi Tande and Knut-Tore Kringstad.

Karen was friends for life with Candy Baumann and husband, Frank, Doris Devine, and Erna Snukis.

Karen’s extended Florida family included Lynn Gibson and husband, Jim, Jamie Escobar-Dyer and husband, Carlos (Sebastian and Gabriel), Victoria Gibson (Karson).

Karen was very family oriented. If you weren’t family through the bloodline, she connected you through the heart. Karen was “Snooks” to her parents and brother, “Susu” to her nieces and godchildren and to some Aunt Karen.

Although Karen had no children of her own, she loved children and spoke often of her time as a Girl Scout leader and the many camping trips she took with them in Georgia. Karen was godmother to children in two different families. Jeannie Giangrande, whose mother, Doris has known Karen from a young age was the first godchild. Victoria “Tori” Gibson, whose mother, Lynn met Karen at A’OK Sign Company just after she moved to Florida from Georgia was her second godchild. Karen could be found with an empty linen closet and a fort that took up almost the whole house with blankets and sheets to make children happy. Karen left a lasting impact on the children she spent time with.

Although she had no human children, Karen had many canine children over the years. Talks from the past of her Pumpkin and Shamma babies made her smile. Her last moments of life were spent on the bed with her dog Buddy who never left her side. The animal rescue she helped support took Buddy in and provided him with a safe foster home until caring adopters are found to provide for him the rest of his life.

Karen worked as an executive secretary most of her life. From New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and down to Florida she found her place beside the person in charge. She had strong clerical skills and loved to show off her shorthand abilities. She was a wonderful resource as a proof reader and could find almost any typo or give advice on necessary word changes. I am sure she would have made a few changes on this obituary if she was still here to see it.

Karen loved to read and always had at least one, and sometimes up to 4, different books going at a time. She would often keep one in her car and read it at the red lights if it was a good one. They were always romance novels as Karen fantasied about meeting the man of her dreams. Awake or asleep she was looking for Mr. Right. Karen married him August 7, 2004. Ed Gonsalves came into Karen’s life through an online group they both belonged to. Once they met in person it was true love. In 2013 Ed passed away leaving Karen alone again. Before Karen passed away, she had many times said that Ed would be waiting for her when her time came, I am sure they are together again and still deeply in love.

Karen loved to play scrabble almost as much as she loved to read. She would have to explain some of the words in question to us that she used because of her vast knowledge from reading so much. When she proved it was a “real word” and one that could be used she would point to her head and say “See, I have kidneys”. I can still hear her saying it now. She continued to play online scrabble with Arne her cousin in Canada during the pandemic.

From the days when her parents were still here with us, she would always help them by driving them back and forth to doctors’ appointments and helping them around the house. Getting out of chairs or in and out of cars was at times difficult for them. She would always say “on the count of six we go” then she would say “One… two… six” which always brought a laugh!

As many of her friends know she was either putzing or kibitzing around. In fact, she used those words in many of her conversations. Karen loved to collect her tchotchkes to decorate around her home.

Stories about her early years on the lake and her precious time she was with her Nana were told often. Karen also loved to sew and make jewelry. Her sewing skills came from Nana as she showed proof of the many items that were made with stitching so small you needed a magnifying glass to see them.

Celebrating holidays with Karen was always fun. At Thanksgiving we always had the additional Norwegian blessing of the food. At Christmas she always teased the kids not to say Cheese in Norwegian or it looked like you ate something sour. She loved her heritage and shared the history with many friends and through the decorations in her home.

Karen is missed very much, but we are sure she will be waiting for each of us as our time to pass comes. She would never forget us as we will never forget her. As Karen always ended our conversation, we will say one more time “I love you more”.

In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Fluff Animal Rescue to help support dogs like Buddy who find at no fault of their own a need for a helping human to step in and take over their care. https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=0_mloPKJ_Jypjp0R6OTCuZtypiRTKG22x3qqWA2cuj25fmm2azkWkNGAIycyKgZ6f5M-ELCBBJwfXGjJ

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