Karen Stern, cancer activist, dead at 63

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Karen Stern, a longtime community volunteer who worked to raise awareness about ovarian cancer, died of the disease early yesterday in St. Francis Hospice in 'Ewa. She was 63.

STERN

Stern, a native of Chicago, worked as a professional model from age 14 until her late 50s. She and her family moved to Maui from Colorado in 1989; they moved to Honolulu in 1998.

Her son Michael said she did extensive volunteer work and was involved with Junior League and Sisterhood for the Jewish Community for many years.

In 1998, Karen Stern was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the difficult-to-treat Stage 3 of the disease. She had surgery to remove her ovaries, underwent chemotherapy and, in November 1998, joined Hui Malama O Ola, an ovarian cancer support group.

In the weeks before her death, Stern continued to work to increase awareness about the often-subtle symptoms of the disease: bloating, abdominal pain, weight loss and fatigue. She urged women in an Advertiser story April 13 to be assertive with their doctors about their healthcare.

Michael Stern said his mother "fought hard to stay alive and make people aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer to try and attempt to stop the disease known as the silent killer."

Karen Stern is survived by her husband, Hal; daughter, Nancy of San Jose, Calif.; sons, Mark of Des Moines, Iowa, and Michael of Honolulu; and four grandchildren.

A memorial service, on a date yet to be determined, will be held at Unity Church of Hawai'i, 3608 Diamond Head Circle. She had asked that anyone wishing to make a donation contribute to ovarian cancer research.