Karen Jo Schmidt

In Loving Memory of Karen Jo Schmidt

January 4, 1949 — August 16, 2025

It is with equal parts gratitude and sorrow that we remember the life of an extraordinary woman, Karen Jo Schmidt, who touched countless lives with her warmth, compassion, and strength.

Karen Jo Schmidt was born on January 4, 1949, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Throughout her life, she was marked by quiet strength and a natural instinct to care for others—qualities that would lead her to a life’s calling in nursing. Over the course of her career, she brought that calling to life in remarkable places: at Montefiore Hospital’s Loeb Convalescent Center, where she honed her craft and assisted hospitalized patients in transitioning back to their homes; at the Bronx Women’s Health Center, where she provided empathetic care to women living in the Bronx; at the Bronx Children’s Psychiatric Center, where her compassion met some of the most vulnerable young people; at the United Nations International School, where she cared for and educated children from around the world; and at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ, where she served with pride as the Town Nurse for Teaneck. She furthered her expertise by earning a Master’s Degree in Adolescent Child Psychology from Lehman College, combining clinical skill with a deep understanding of emotional development. Always progressive in her views on women’s healthcare, Karen advocated tirelessly for dignity, access, and compassionate care, well ahead of her time. She cared for patients and families with a steadiness that calmed fear, a gentleness that restored dignity, and a professionalism that set the standard for everyone around her. She had a way of listening that made people feel seen. She had a way of teaching that made colleagues feel capable, and of mentoring that motivated her mentees to enter the field of nursing. And she had a way of showing up—especially when things were hardest—that made all the difference.

Karen was the center of our family’s orbit. She is survived by her loving husband, Jules Feiman; her daughter, Arielle Feiman; her cherished grandchildren, Marlow and Isla Laskowski; and her son-in-law, Matthew Laskowski. She poured her whole heart into each of them—celebrating their wins, holding them steady in their losses, and reminding them, always, that love is a verb you practice daily.

To Arielle, she was a model of courage and tenderness, the first call for advice and the warmest home for conversation. To Marlow and Isla, she was Mor Mor in the truest sense—patient, playful, endlessly curious about their worlds, and somehow always prepared with just the right book, snack, or story. To Matthew, she shared her love for design and creativity and was a constant ally. And to Jules, she was his steadfast companion, his dearest friend, and the one who transformed ordinary days into a beautiful life together.

Beyond her work and family, Karen was the first to organize a gathering—her home was always open for celebration. Passover, Christmas, Easter, or Midsummer festivities honoring her Swedish heritage with maypoles and Swedish meatballs—each holiday was infused with warmth, laughter, and her unmistakable touch. She loved the freedom of the open road, from cross-country trips to Swedish family reunions, and she embraced adventure as a frequent camper with dear friends who shared her love of discovery. A true beach lover, Karen could often be found at Long Beach Island, in Puerto Rico and her beloved island of Culebra, or at Surfside Beach, South Carolina, stretched out in the sand with a book or a New York Times crossword puzzle. She studied yoga and went on to teach it, sharing its grounding wisdom with others. An artist at heart, she expanded her creativity through watercolor painting, capturing seas, mountains, and landscapes with vibrancy and life. To so many of Arielle’s friends, Karen was their “New York mom,” offering them the same generosity of spirit she shared with family. Her legacy calls us to love, dance, laugh, sing, and cherish not only our own families but the broader human family as well—to meet each day with optimism and to create lives rooted in kindness.

Karen’s legacy is etched in the lives she touched: patients who felt comforted, coworkers who felt supported, friends who felt genuinely known, and a family who carry her love forward. We will honor her by the way we treat others, by the steadiness with which we face hard days, and by the delight we take in one another’s company.

As we honor her life, let us remember the wisdom of her final words to her daughter—words that now belong to all of us—to always “be good to each other”. May we carry that spirit in how we treat one another, in how we face each day with kindness, and in how we continue the love she so freely gave.

In her memory contributions to Planned Parenthood will be appreciated.