Karleen (Kay) passed peacefully March 9, 2021 with her sons by her side . Predeceased by her husband Arthur J. Pierce, her parents Sumner A Rushlow and Haidee M Rushlow, her daughter Mary L Pierce, brother Sumner A Jr, her sisters Hyacinth M Sage, Marion U Proctor, Shirley A Washburn, Pauline H Goodfellow. Karleen is survived by daughter Shirley (Sam) Fiumara, Sons Mark B (Rita) Pierce, Dr John J (Melissa) Pierce, Anetta Replogle.(adopted daughter) grandchildren Kimberly M (Jeff ) Dygert grandson Greggory S Fiumara, Kris Woodman, Kathleen Williams, Susan (Gary) Ballew, Sandra (Greg) Brown several great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Dear friend JoNan Tyo and Ollie.
Karleen and her husband managed the Dickens Room Bar & Grill on S Warren Street in downtown Syracuse for several years before Karleen went on to waitressing at Angelo’s Cornucopia in N. Syracuse, The Red Fox at the Holiday Inn in E. Syracuse and The Dinkler Hotel / Restaurant on James St in E. Syracuse. She retired from waitressing but couldn’t sit still. She was offered a position with the Hanyak family caring for an elderly family member, Frank. She lived in the home and took care of The elderly man for many years. Cooking and taking him to Dr appointments and just out for rides in the car. She treated him as her own family member and his family treated her as their own.
Karleen, known more often as Kay was a guest on the Jim DeLine show WSYR Syracuse in the late 50’s.
She left Syracuse and moved to Palm Beach, FL to work as a caregiver to Catherine C Murray until her passing, then she moved to Las Vegas to be near her sons where she remained until her death.
Kay never met a person that she didn’t call friend and she had a lot of them. Her friends were friends forever. She was loved for her quick wit and always was there with it. She had many talents from cooking to arts and crafts which she excelled in. Her favorite hobby was gardening, she loved being outside planting everything from vegetables to flowers and sharing with her friends and neighbors. She will be missed by all, especially by her family.
There will be no services by her wishes. The family asks that any donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Foundation in her name.
