Obituary of Karen V. Campos

June 15, 1953 - February 2, 2023

Karen V. Campos. Age 69 of Woodhaven.

Beloved wife of Rafael.  Loving mother of Timothy (Kelly) and Maria (Nick) Merolla.  Dearest grandmother of Timothy, Jenna and Adrienne.

Family Tribute ~

Karen Marsh was born on June 15, 1953, in the back of an ambulance under the viaduct of 12th street on the southwest side of Detroit. She was the youngest of four girls in an Irish-German family that included parents James and Bernice Marsh and sisters Patricia, Janice, and Annette. The family eventually moved to the Marsh Family Home on McKinstry in Detroit.

Whether as a child or a teen, Karen’s spontaneity made every experience memorable for those with her.

Her destiny was sealed when Rafael Campos proposed to her with Cold Duck and a ring in the parking lot of the local White Castle, which would remain a favorite treat. They married April 30, 1971 at Most Holy Redeemer Church. Their first child Timothy was born soon after and their daughter, Maria followed a few years later. They moved to a home on the family block of McKinstry street where the Campos / Marsh family was consolidated through the marriage of Karen and Ralph.

Karen was a good cook who took a lot of pride in her home. She fully embraced Rafael’s Mexican heritage, learning to cook meals by helping his mother in the kitchen because she loved family. She loved that her children were able to go from one grandparent home to another because they all lived a few doors away. At many of the family gatherings, she became known by the persona of Carmelita, who was notorious for wild and crazy antics.

Karen had the ability to get a job absolutely anywhere. She and Rafael’s brother David called the White House one time, asking for a job. And guess what she got in the mail? An official application! 

Karen founded the latch key program at the Gibraltar school district, and eventually, she became a paraprofessional within the district, where she remained for nearly 20 years before retiring. She loved and protected all of the children that were in her care, and they were all extended family to her.

Karen’s core family continued to grow with the marriage of her daughter Maria to Nick Merolla, who gifted her with the birth of grandson Timothy and granddaughter Jenna. After the marriage of her son Timothy to Kelly, she was blessed with her youngest grandchild Adrienne.

Throughout her life, the Catholic faith carried her through every change during 51 years of marriage. The last 12 years, Karen suffered many health issues, but with her family, faith, and the force of her personality she pushed through with a positive attitude.

Karen will be remembered for her sense of humor, her hard work ethic, and the lives she touched. We can only imagine what would have happened if she had applied for the position at the White House.

Memorial contributions are appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.