Leynor, KAREN has succumbed to the congenital medical
condition whose onset surprised her, and all who loved her, almost four
months ago. Holding her hands as she released her peaceful last breaths
were her husband, Rabbi Jeffrey Leynor of Congregation Beth Torah in
Richardson, and her sister Donna Clar of Dallas. Karen was 38 years old.
First diagnosed with a brain aneurism on May 21, she had immediate
surgery. Initial results were promising -- "She was moving,
talking, answering questions, making us laugh," according to Donna
Clar. But major setbacks and more operations followed. After eight weeks
at Dallass Zale-Lipshy Hospital, Karen was transferred in an
unresponsive state to Heritage Manor Nursing Home in Plano. When
neurologists concluded there was no further chance of recovery, she
entered hospice care at the home, where she died on Thursday, September
9. The funeral will be graveside at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 13 in
the Beit Olam section of Hillcrest Memorial Park. Officiating will be
Rabbi Adam Raskin of Congregation Shearith Israel, Dallas, whose wife's
family has long been affiliated with Beth Torah. Leynor and Clar family
members will receive friends and well-wishers at 6:30 p.m. on both
Monday and Tuesday evenings at Congregation Beth Torah, 720 Lookout
Drive, Richardson; a shiva minyan (memorial service) will follow at 7
p.m. both days, with added visitation time afterward. Visitation at the
Leynor home will be limited to immediate family only. Karen's survivors
include her son, Austin Clar, 18. He has been a true big brother to
Rabbi Leynor's children, Perry and Keri, ages 13 and 12, since the
couple married on July 1, 2001. The family was happiest doing things
together at home, and adventuring to nearby places of interest such as
Fossil Rim and the Blue Bell ice cream plant . They also enjoyed
antiquing and working on their house: "Karen used the power tools
and I clipped the coupons, "Rabbi Leynor said. Karen is also
survived by her mother, Naomi Clar of Miami, Florida; brother Steven
Clar of New York, NY; another sister, Noreen Marsicano, and her husband
Joey, of Surfside, Florida, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her
father, Henry Clar, preceded her in death. A devoted animal lover and
supporter of all animal rights causes, Karen is also missed by her pets
of many years, Jake, Emma, and Jane. Born in Miami on March 31, 1966 --
ironically, the day before Rabbi Leynor's Bar Mitzvah -- Karen completed
her undergraduate studies at Florida State University in Tallahassee and
earned her Master of Social Work degree at Florida International
University. Licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she most
recently received additional licensing as a clinical hypnotherapist. She
worked at two agencies in Dallas before joining Magellan Health
Services, Richardson, in 200l, becoming lead clinician of triage, and
was named Employee of the Month in November of last year. When her final
illness extended beyond the number of sick leave days that her health
coverage allowed, some 50 Magellan employees volunteered to donate a
day's pay to her cause; a corporate policy change was instituted that
allowed them to do so. After coming to Dallas 14 years ago, Karen found
Beth Torah and enrolled Austin in its religious school. As he studied
and began preparation for his Bar Mitzvah, she reconnected with her own
faith, became active in the synagogue, and grew in Judaism herself. She
joined an adult Bat Mitzvah class and completed those studies in 1998,
the year before the coming-of-age ritual for her son. According to Donna
Clar, "Karen had many gifts. One was to love people based on what
was on the inside of them." Rabbi Leynor cites his own experience
in this regard: when the couple married, he weighed 457 pounds. Karen
encouraged him to have gastric bypass surgery, supporting him before,
during, and after the procedure. He is now at 235 pounds. "I
couldn't imagine why this competent adult woman with a career,
intelligence, and beauty could have chosen me," Rabbi Leynor said.
"She got me where I need to be, and I told her I loved her every
day. The two decided on Labor Day of 2000 that they wanted to spend the
rest of their lives together; it was four years to the day, this past
Labor Day, that Karen was transferred to hospice care. "She was as
beautiful in death as in life, peaceful, with no discomfort, no
pain." Until the end, he said, "She radiated light and
life."
Dignity Memorial Sparkman Hillcrest 7405 W. Northwest Hwy. Dallas
(214) 363-5401 Published in the Dallas Morning News from 9/12/2004 -
9/13/2004. |
