Chavez, Karen S. 1948-2025 St. Joseph, Mo.

Karen Sue Chavez, 76, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2025, at her home, She was born July 30, 1948, in St. Joseph, daughter of the late Ethel and Frederick Penland.

She attended Benton High School and worked at the Northwest Psychiatric Rehab Center as a custodial supervisor. She was a member of the Red Hat Society in Arizona, and was an avid reader, who loved fishing, mushroom hunting, and watching her hummingbirds. She was a Catholic.

Karen was preceded in death by her husband, John Chavez Jr.; her parents; two great-grandchildren; three brothers, Frederick, Benny and Lonnie Penland; sisters, Donna Jean Simpson, Myrna Bartch and Judy Brown.

She is survived by daughters, Christina Weekly, Gina (Peggy) Chavez, and Angela (Jeff) Boyles; sons, John (Donna) Chavez III and Robert (Stephanie) Chavez, all of St. Joseph; 15 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Janice Wise, Linda Hampton, and Phyllis Patterson.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Rupp Funeral Home. She has been cremated under the care of the Rupp Funeral Home.

Online condolence and obituary at www.ruppfuneral.com As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.