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Karen was born on June 15, 1958, in Van Nuys, California, to Anne Sirski (Yakimchuk) and Yaroslaw “Jerry” Sirski. She was deeply proud of her Ukrainian heritage and remained closely connected to her family, culture, and community throughout her life. She graduated from Granada Hills High School in 1976, where she participated in Drill Team and Candy Striping. She later earned her Associate Degree in Nursing in 1980, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1983, and her Master’s in Nursing Education from Long Beach State in 1990.
In 1989, Karen married Frank Martin, and together they built a life centered on family, friendship, and adventure. They enjoyed water sports, skiing, boating, flying, gardening, and home improvement projects, but their greatest joy and proudest accomplishment were their three children: Lindsey, Jessica, and Christopher.
Karen’s love of Ukrainian culture was a lifelong part of who she was. In her youth, she danced with a folk ensemble associated with the Los Angeles Ukrainian Cultural Center, sang, and participated in SUM, a Ukrainian youth organization. Years later, when her daughters developed a love for dance, Karen enthusiastically joined them in taking hip-hop, tap, and jazz lessons.
Karen devoted more than 45 years to the nursing profession, including the last 28 years at Kaiser Permanente Riverside, where she served as Assistant Medical Group Administrator and Chief Nursing Officer. Nursing was not simply her profession, but one of her greatest callings.
She also extended her impact beyond the hospital through decades of service with the American Heart Association and the Statewide and Local Health Workforce Initiative Committee. In the 1990s, Karen and her mother traveled to Ukraine to assist in training missionary nurses and to promote modern health care practices.
Karen believed deeply in serving her community. She supported Norco through school fundraisers, the Highland Elementary PTA, the Corona-Norco Unified School District Community Health Curriculum Advisory Committee, Norco Little League, and the Norco Area Chamber of Commerce, where she served as both board member and past chairman.
Karen loved to travel with family and friends, especially to places filled with sunshine, warmth, and calm beaches. She had an open heart and a welcoming spirit, and she was a generous, loyal, and cherished friend to many. She was known for her vibrant social nature and for opening her home to family and friends for all kinds of gatherings and celebrations. Everyone was always welcome.
Karen is survived by her daughters, Lindsey and Jessica; her son, Christopher; her son-in-law, Mickey; her grandchildren, Charlotte and Lincoln; and her brother, Jerry Sirski, and his wife, Nancy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank.
She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.