It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Karen Marie Scott on December 30, 2025.

Karen never really knew how to answer the question, "Where are you from?" She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 7, 1949, and was the oldest of 6 siblings (by just a few minutes before her twin sister Sharon). As a result of their father's work, she and her siblings spent their youth moving about the country with their parents, from Iowa, to Illinois, to Oregon and California, eventually settling back in Illinois. But Karen's travels didn't stop there, joining the Peace Corps soon after college, beginning the life of service and education that meant so much to her.  Following their time in Tonga in the Peace Corps, Karen and her then husband, Jerry, traveled extensively through Southeast Asia, New Zealand, and Australia before returning to the US to start a family, raising their two children, Joe and Nicole, in Gurnee, Illinois. During that time, Karen received a Masters in Adult Education and taught adult education for the US Army at Fort Sheridan.

After her split with Jerry, Karen and Nicole moved to Maryland, where Karen carried on her work in the world of education and community outreach, eventually working for the federal government with the Environmental Protection Agency, from which she eventually retired.  Through this work she was able to visit many of the country's National Parks, beginning her lifelong love of the parks. She spent over 30 years in Maryland, with many beloved pets, building a strong community of friends that she cherished until the end.

While living in Maryland, Nicole and Karen's friends supported her through cancer and other illnesses and injuries. Karen eventually moved back to Illinois in 2019 to be closer to a larger network of family support, including her son Joe, his wife Paula, and her three amazing grandchildren. She was able to spend her final years surrounded by her big and loving family, enjoying meals, shopping, and many other fun outings together. She was even able to join a community of storytellers, Stories R Us, in Lockport. With that group she was able to pursue her passion for writing and loved telling her stories to her fellow storytellers, and many others who came to hear them. We know she had many more stories to tell.

She was also able to continue her travels during her final years, including one last trip overseas with her cousins in 2024 to Germany, where she was able to meet Niklas, the bone marrow donor who saved her life in 2020 after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Niklas's selfless act allowed her many more years with her family and friends, and meeting him and his loving family was an incredibly special time for her.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Karen is preceded in death by her mother, Loraine Scott; her father, James (Irene) Scott; her twin sister Sharon Scott; and her sister Mary Holmes.

She is survived by her son, Joe Digilio (Paula Lozano); her daughter Nicole Digilio (Shaun Wilson); grandchildren Quinn, Evan, and Zachary; sisters Barbara Kirby (Boyd); Susan Wagner; brother Thomas Scott; as well as many other beloved family members.

In lieu of flowers, the family would greatly appreciate donations to any of the following charities in Karen's name.

Tender Loving Care Animal Shelter ( DONATE )
The Morton Arboretum ( DONATE )
Blue Water Baltimore ( DONATE )
Blood Cancer United ( DONATE )

Photo courtesy of Steve Eberhard

Memorial Visitation on Saturday, January 10, 2026, from 10am-1pm at O'NEIL FUNERAL HOME 1105 E. 9th St., Lockport.  For Info: (815) 838-5010 or www.oneilfuneralhome.com

Eulogies and words of remembrance will begin promptly at 12:00pm please long on to link below prior to noon.

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