Karen Cantwell

If you knew Karen Lea Cantwell, you knew warmth. You knew kindness. You knew the feeling of being welcomed into a home where an extra place setting was always waiting—just in case someone needed a meal, a conversation, or simply a place to belong.

Karen was born on January 15, 1940, in Wichita, Kansas, and moved with her parents, Marvin and Thelma Miller, to Sacramento in 1947. Though she was an only child, she never felt alone. She grew up surrounded by cousins, especially her cousin Noni, who became the sister she never officially had.

After graduating from El Camino High School, Karen worked for the County Court Clerk and later at Aerojet in the Liquids Management Department. But the most important chapter of her life began on June 24, 1961, when she married Richard Kenneth Cantwell. Together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and two children—Susan and Steven—who remained the center of her world.

When her children were young, Karen became a teacher’s aide at Thomas Edison Elementary, the same school they attended. She loved being close to them, cheering them on, and showing up for every moment that mattered. She rarely missed Steven’s little league games or sporting events, even as he grew older, and she supported Susan’s school activities all the way through college. She was the kind of mother who made you feel seen, supported, and deeply loved.

Karen brought that same devotion to her marriage. She attended Richard’s baseball and basketball games, joined bowling leagues with him, and shared in the simple joy of doing life side by side.

Faith was a steady thread in Karen’s life. At First Baptist Church of North Sacramento, she served on the Church Council and sang in the choir, offering her voice and her heart to the community she cherished.

And then there was the neighborhood—where Karen became a second mom to countless kids who wandered in and out of her home. Her open-door policy wasn’t a phrase; it was a way of life. Long after Susan and Steven grew up and moved away, their childhood friends still stopped by, drawn back by the memory of her warmth.

Karen had a creative spirit. She loved arranging silk flowers, decorating for every holiday, and cheering on her favorite teams—the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas Jayhawks and Sacramento Kings. She and Richard shared a love for RV adventures with their dogs, traveling to Alaska with lifelong friends, driving cross-country to visit family, and camping along the coast at Wrights Beach and Casini Ranch. Those trips were filled with stories, laughter, and the quiet contentment of being together.

Karen was fun. She was generous. She was the kind of person who made life feel lighter just by being in the room. And she was deeply loved.

Karen is survived by her children, Susan (Tom) and Steven (Torri); Steve’s step-children, Maci, Taylon, Sydni, and Skylar; and Steve’s step-grandchildren, Titus, Paislee, Calin and Macoy. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her parents, Marvin and Thelma Miller; and her beloved animals.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church of North Sacramento, 2601 Del Paso Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95815.