Karen Appel Werle, 70, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the Community Hospice-Earl B. Hadlow Center with her loving children by her side. She was born on February 1, 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to John and Margaret Appel. She graduated from Bethel Park High School in 1964 and then graduated from the Washington Hospital School of Nursing in 1968. She served others for many years as a loving nurse for her community hospitals, hospice and ultimately retired from State Farm in 2003 after she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

Karen valued her family and friends dearly. She adored her children who were her lifelong heartbeat. She had three loving brothers she could always count on and who comforted her endlessly. As a friend, she found women to call sisters.  As a co-worker, she was grateful for the good folks surrounding her that became another family. As a nurse, she took care of patients that taught her life lessons every time she cared for them. 

Karen truly felt she experienced the goodwill of others every day of her life and always said she was a rich woman. Her riches weren’t from material wealth, but simply from the people she met along the way. Being around people is what she cherished most.

Karen is survived by her daughter, Stattie and her husband, Mike McCluskey; son, Bill and wife, Haley Werle, both of Fruit Cove, FL; one granddaughter, Amelia Werle; two grandsons, Liam McCluskey and Cade Werle; three brothers, Larry (Joan) Appel, Tuscon, AZ, Jack (Pam) Appel, Apopka, FL and Jim (Cindy) Appel, Fayettville, GA; along with many nieces and nephews. 

Karen’s wishes were for her family to celebrate her life in her beloved hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Her final resting place will be in the Ponte Vedra Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please honor Karen by making a donation to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida or by doing a random act of kindness for a stranger in her memory.