BETTACCHI, Karen Z. (Zahniser) of Lexington, MA, Bakers Mills, NY and Nantucket, MA was born April 16, 1943 in Hyattsville, MD and died March 22, 2017 of complications from Alzheimer's disease.

Beloved wife of Robert J. Bettacchi. Loving mother of Gabrielle Rogers of Marblehead and Andrea Urban and her husband Michael of Grafton. Cherished grandmother of Jackson and Chase Rogers and Isabel and Zachary Urban. Dear sister of Mathias Zahniser and his wife Ann of Greenville, IL Edward Zahniser and his wife Christine Duewel of Shepherdstown, WV and Esther Gillies and her husband Duncan of London, England. Karen is also survived by a large extended family of nieces, nephews, their spouses and children.

Karen was a graduate of Greenville College in Greenville, IL in 1965 and was granted an MA in Counseling from Loyola University in Baltimore, MD and an MDiv from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. She was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood in 1991 and served as Curate at St. Mary's in Dorchester, Assistant Rector at Church of Our Redeemer in Lexington and Rector of St. Luke's and St. Margaret's in Allston-Brighton. Prior to her service in the priesthood, Karen had a nearly 15 year career with Minuteman Home Care Corporation as Director of Case Managers. After retirement as rector in 2002 Karen continued her ministries by conducting services at nursing homes in the area and by serving as a companion and along-sider at the Bethany House of Prayer in Arlington, MA until her Alzheimer's disease overtook her abilities to perform those functions effectively.

Karen blessed many with her warm and generous friendship, her spirit, her intellect, her infectious joyful laugh, and her pastoral insight that could bring love, kindness and truth into the same moment with grace. Throughout her ministries, she saw those whom others might have missed.

She loved wilderness and the time she spent with her siblings and extended family at MATESKARED, the family camp in the Adirondacks. She also loved their family vacation home on Nantucket and spending time there, in all seasons, with her husband, extended nuclear family and friends. Karen also enjoyed traveling as well as frequenting the symphony, opera and theater with her husband. She had an eye for beauty, and loved to sew, knit, garden and bake – especially when the result nourished, clothed or engaged a loved one. She invested in her friendships, and was a faithful participant of book clubs, knitting groups and other gatherings of cherished friends. But most of all, Karen delighted in her children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them – gathering rocks and shells at the beach, baking cookies, cheering enthusiastically at athletic games, singing around a piano or campfire, and simply being present.

The family is profoundly thankful for the care and comfort given to Karen by the staff at The Courtyard at Youville Place during the past year.

She will be deeply missed.

Memorial services will be held at the Church of our Redeemer 6 Meriam St Lexington on Wednesday March 29th at 10AM. Visiting hours will be held at the Douglass Funeral Home 51 Worthen Rd Lexington on Tuesday March 28th from 5-7:30PM.

In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to Alzheimer's Association of MA/NH. 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham MA 02452; Saint Francis House 39 Boylston St. Boston MA 02116; Or The Church Of Our Redeemer 6 Meriam St. Lexington MA 02420. Interment Westview Cemetery, Lexington.