Herberger Family Elk Grove Funeral Chapel

Karen Sullivan

Karen Sullivan (née Thorsen), born in April 1945 in Newburg, New York, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2025, in Elk Grove, California. She was 80 years old.

Karen’s life was marked by a deep commitment to learning, compassion for others, and a love of family and nature. She graduated from The Milne School in Albany, New York, before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany. Her passion for understanding the human experience led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University.

Karen dedicated much of her professional life to the nonprofit sector, where she worked tirelessly to support and uplift others. In 2008, she fulfilled a long-held dream by opening her own private practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist. Through her work, she touched countless lives with empathy and insight until her retirement in 2018.

Karen found joy and fulfillment beyond her career through a wide array of hobbies that reflected her creativity and appreciation for the world around her. She was an avid quilter and crafter whose hands were rarely still. Bird watching brought her quiet moments of wonder, while gardening allowed her to nurture beauty from the earth. A lifelong reader and enthusiastic traveler, Karen embraced both the written word and new experiences with equal delight. Above all else, she cherished time spent with family and friends.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Bob Sullivan; daughters Jennifer (and son-in-law Patrick Larkin), Kathleen (and son-in-law Sean Brown), and Elizabeth Sullivan; grandchildren Nikolas (and wife Charizma), James, Sara, and Jack; and her brother Thomas Thorsen and many nieces and nephews.Karen was preceded in death by her parents, John and Irene Thorsen; and siblings Carol Quackenbush, John Thorsen, Linda Novak, and Terrance Thorsen.Karen’s legacy lives on through the many lives she touched with kindness and care. May her memory bring comfort to those who knew and loved her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on
November 22, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
at Herberger Family Elk Grove Funeral Chapel
9101 Elk Grove Blvd.
Elk Grove, CA 95624

Lunch to follow the service.

When words can't fully express what we want to say, sometimes a small gift can. Visit our Memorial Store for personalized gifts, keepsake jewelry and to plant a memorial tree.

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Karen Sullivan Obituary | Herberger Family Elk Grove Funeral Chapel