Karen Roberta Purnell

Karen Roberta Purnell, 78, of Youngstown, passed away peacefully at Hospice of the Valley on February 8th, 2025. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio on August 26th,1946 to the late Robert Joseph and Lelia Mae (Knight) Bickerstaff. She was 1964 graduate of Austintown Fitch and started her waitressing career at her family owned business, Knights Restaurant in Canfield, Ohio and went on to retire from Antones.

Karen married her husband, Thomas Purnell, on August 10th, 1964, with whom she would spend 60 years with, creating a lifetime of memories. She loved many things such as vacationing in the Outer Banks, cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers, but her number one joy in life was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Karens beautiful memory will be carried on through her husband, her son; Robert (Jocelyn) Purnell, her sister; Ruthann Connelly, her grandchildren; Jennifer (Brian) Sterling, Emily (David) Purnell, and Tyler (Jennifer) Purnell, and her great-grandchildren; Peyton, Auri, Sawyer, and Crue.

Karen is preceded in death by her sister Susan Carr and her parents.

Family and friends may call from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday, February 13th at Lane Funeral Home-Austintown with a service to follow on Friday February 14th at 10am at Lane Funeral Home- Austintown.