Obituary of Dolores Michela Karl

Dolores Michela “Honey” Karl

Born in her grandparent’s home on Franklin Street in Westport, Connecticut, on July 11, 1928, Dolores Michela DePalmer “Honey” Karl lived a life of devotion to family and faith.  She passed away 95 years later on April 18, 2024 in El Paso, Texas, where she had recently been staying with her eldest son.

She grew up in Westport and Norwalk, graduating from Norwalk High School where she was an honor roll student, and participated in the swim and dive team. In the summertime she taught swimming to area youth at Compo Beach with her cousin Esther Ann.  After high school she attended the College of New Rochelle, majoring in English, and went on to teach in area schools.

She attended Columbia University part time to obtain her masters in speech pathology, but also found the time to join the  Norwalk Ski Club, where, she and her sister skied  the northeast in the early days, going as far as to Chile in the summer, which she thought was an obvious choice for a teacher with the summers off. Though all her activities at home and abroad lead some relatives to worry she may become a spinster, the ski club also led her to meet Lawrence “Larry” Karl, who became the love of her life.  They married in 1960.

They raised their family of 5 in New Canaan, and during this time she worked as a speech pathologist at St. Aloysius School.  The couple bought property in Braintree, Vermont, in 1967 so their fledglings could learn to ski and enjoy nature.  The land has created a family legacy with numerous gatherings and vacations including, since 1984, an annual event dubbed Happy Camper Weekend. Honey always loved it that people she had never met also appreciated the land.

Upon retirement Honey and Larry wintered in Marathon, Florida in a home built on land acquired in the 60s. They were able to enjoy many balmy winters swimming and biking in the Keys until Larry’s passing in 2009. Honey continued to split time between Florida and Connecticut, while making it a point to attend the important events of her children and grandchildren in the northeast and around the country.  As through all her life, family and faith were paramount.  Honey attended daily mass and was active in parish life as a member of Our Lady’s Guild at St Aloysius in New Canaan and her women’s Bible study group at San Pablo parish in Marathon.

She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Antonette DePalmer, her brother, Anthony Joseph DePalmer and her beloved husband Larry.  She was briefly survived by her sister Eleanor Eugenie Banyard, who passed 3 days after Honey at the age of 99 in Norwalk. She is survived by sister-in-law Judy DePalmer, and her devoted children Lawrence Karl, and Debora, of El Paso TX, Anne Kelly, and Michael, of Goshen CT, Matthew Karl, of Burlington VT, Jane McKeen, and Nathan, of Weathersfield VT and Philip Karl, and Jennifer, of Rehoboth MA. Twelve beloved grandchildren mourn her passing, as well as countless nieces and nephews, many of whom were her godchildren.

Mass of Christian burial will be on May 20 at St Aloysius Church, at 11 am. There will be calling hours on May 19 from 1-3.  Any memorial remembrances can be sent to the Hoyt Funeral home, or if you would like to make a charitable gift in her name please consider St. Aloysius Church, where she was a long time parishioner.

For live stream please click the link https://boxcast.tv/view/funeral-mass-for-dolores-honey-karl-bmqxsnbgbwz2qjqlvoqt