Karen Lynn Kavanaugh - Kenney

Karen Kavanaugh Kenney, 53, was called to heaven as the sun set on June 18, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her family at her side. She was born on October 18, 1959 in Orange, California to Alfred William (Bill) and Mary Ann Kavanaugh. Karen grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She graduated from Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City in 1977 and received a BS in Organizational Leadership from Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. Karen was the Integrated Oncology Compliance Officer in Irvine, California for the Anatomical Pathology Division of LabCorp where she was greatly loved and admired by all those she encountered. She served on several national regulation interpretations and was highly influential and immensely respected. Throughout her life Karen excelled in all her works which included volunteering through Junior Hospitality, her service with REST Day Center for the Homeless, to ultimately pioneering in her field of medical compliance. Karen married the love of her life Gary Kenney in 2011 in Austin, Texas. Seal Beach, California was where they established their home, enriched by their beloved pets Oscar, CC, Jeter, and Swish. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, traveling, live theater, sporting events, all things Disney, fireworks and chihuahuas. Most of all she loved her children and grandchildren and spending her days by her husband's side. Karen was preceded in death by her father Bill Kavanaugh, and grandparents, Paul and Rita Eckroat. Karen is survived by her husband Gary Kenney of Seal Beach, California; mother Mary Ann Kavanaugh; her daughter Sarah Halley and husband Josh; daughter Stephanie Noel and husband Kevin; son Brian Pfenninger and wife Kristin; daughter Christina Pfenninger; brother Sean Kavanaugh; sister Colleen Kavanaugh; grandchildren Nathan and Kaitlyn Halley, Alyssa and Jacob Noel, and Story and Thea Pfenninger. All who knew Karen were blessed with her caring heart, infinite wisdom and enlightened by her spirited laughter. Services will be held at the Chapel at Resurrection Memorial, 7801 NW Expressway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73132 at 10:00 am on Saturday, June 22, 2013. Graveside services will follow. Visitation and Evening Prayer Service will be held at Smith and Kernke Funeral Home at 7:00 pm on Friday, June 21, 2013.