Karen Sue Bailey

December 16, 1955 - May 15, 2022

Karen Sue Bailey, 66, of Kankakee, passed away Sunday, May 15, 2022 at her home surrounded by loved ones, after a quick but courageous battle with breast cancer. Karen was born December 16th, 1955 in Gilman, IL, the daughter of Dr. Kendall and Shirley (Ireland) Rowe. She married Don Bailey, the love of her life, on July 16th, 1988 in Gilman, IL. He preceded her in death on December 25th, 2009. She graduated from Mennonite College of Nursing in 1978, then earned her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Nursing from University of Illinois. She dedicated her life to caring for others, as a pediatric RN at Riverside Medical Center before becoming the BBCHS high school nurse for 27 years. She loved traveling and nature. Her family went on annual summer camping trips to Door County, WI. They also went to the Lake of the Ozarks, MO every summer for over 50 years. She most recently traveled to Key West, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, gathering new friends everywhere she went. She was a diehard Green Bay Packers fan, loved a good glass of red wine, reading, and playing cards with her friends. She was an incredible cook and anyone was welcome in her kitchen. Karen enjoyed bike riding, water skiing, cross country skiing, and going to concerts. As a teenager, she was an accomplished markswoman, winning several awards in rifle sharpshooting. She was always smiling, always grateful, and always the life of the party. She had a passion for gardening and was a member of the Kankakee County Kultivators. She dedicated much of her free time volunteering in the community and her church, Gathering Point. She made frequent meals for the homeless at Fortitude Community Outreach, served weekly at Center of Hope Food Pantry, and directed the Kids’ Hope mentoring program, among many other selfless acts of kindness. She loved all people without judgment, and saw the good in everyone she met. Her Christian faith was at the core of everything she did, and you could see it in the way she lived life every day. Surviving are her children: Bryan Bailey of Kankakee, Marc (Nicole) Bailey of Kankakee, Scott (Chelsea) Bailey of Sturgis, MI., and Megan (Kevin) Pierson of Bourbonnais; six grandchildren: Christopher Bailey, Jackson Pierson, Hannah Bailey, Lydia Bailey, Piper Bailey, and Lincoln Bailey; four sisters: Sheila (Jerry) West, Nancy (Joel) Davenport, Diane (Dean) Fink, and Lynn (Jerry) Miller; one brother, Doug Rowe; sister-in-law Clarice (David) Roach; and brother-in-law, Paul Bailey (Jean Swee). She is also survived by the incredible Kanosky family, several beloved nieces and nephews, and countless dear friends. In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 19th at Jensen Funeral Home in Kankakee. Additional visitation will be from 10 a.m Friday, May 20th, 2022 until the 11 a.m. funeral service at Gathering Point Church in Bourbonnais. Private Interment will be at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on Monday, May 23, 2022. Memorials may be made to Fortitude Community Outreach of Kankakee and Center of Hope Food Pantry in Kankakee