Karen Marie Dowling DiRocco Stewart, 56, passed away May 16th, 2016 after a valiant 16 year battle against recurrent breast cancer. Karen is survived by her husband, Tom Stewart, children Meghan DiRocco (Fiancee Rich Freeman), Joe DiRocco, Lauren Stewart, Abbey Stewart, Mother; Peg Dowling, Mother-in-Law; Marcelene Stewart, Sisters and Brothers: Susan Gill (Jack), Mary Kay Whalen (Michael), Tom Dowling (Janette), Steve Dowling (Kristin), and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father, Tom Dowling.

Karen waged a ferocious and valiant fight with a combination of faith, nutrition, medical care and a determination to live and parent her children. In this journey she demonstrated an unflinching, relentless faith in God. She wants her extended family and friends to know how grateful she was for the time they had together, and to not lose faith. It was a hard road she traveled, but your prayers and your kindness made the journey easier. Please continue to reach out to those who need help. You can never do a kindness too soon, for you never know when it will be too late. Karen never gave up on God and understood this mission was about others and not about her. Words cannot express how much Karen will be missed by those who love her.

A Catholic mass will be celebrated at 10:00 on Saturday May 21st at Holy Family Church in Stow, Ohio. Contributions can be made to Holy Family Church care of MOMS ministry, and/or St. Eugenes Catholic Church.