Karen Childs Lavelle, 74, formerly of Fairfield CT, passed away Friday March 27, 2026 at her home on Amelia Island, Florida.

Born in New Haven CT, she was a daughter ot Herb and Isabel Chllds. She studied at Mannes School of Music in New York City, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Southern Connecticut State University. She enjoyed her memberships in the Patterson Club of Fairfield, CT, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Harvard Club of Boston. Before retirement, Karen was a special education teacher in the Fairfield CT school system.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Michael N. Lavelle, her daughter Palmer Lavelle and son Frank Lavelle, and sisters Rebecca Miller and Sarah Gagnon and brother Andrew Childs.

There are no immediate services planned but she will be laid to rest at her family's cemetery plot in West Dover, Vermont.