Karen J. Wells

Karen J Wells (nee Hanson) passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on August
11, 2022, after a brief illness. The eldest of six children, Karen was born on November 25, 1955
in Chicago to parents Herman and Jean Hanson. She was raised in Lombard and Lisle, Illinois
and graduated from Lisle Senior High School in 1973, where she was active in numerous school
plays and musicals. She attended Cosmetology school. Karen worked as a hairdresser,
ultimately opening her own salon, Sophisticuts, in Munster, Indiana. Karen later became a
representative for Framesi, a hair coloring producer, and taught hair coloring techniques, never
afraid to sport many different hairstyles and colors, including purple, her favorite! Karen moved
into event planning through Glatz Management Services as an Account Executive and spent
most of her career arranging various benefits for a non-profit organization dedicated to helping
those impacted by HIV/AIDS in the Chicago area. Karen was the glue that held the
DIFFA/Chicago leadership together for 17 years. Her unwavering commitment to the
organization was her strength and the love for the cause, the agencies that were funded, the
supporters who would always say yes to her, will always be her legacy. Karen was active
member at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Munster, Indiana, teaching Sunday school for many
years.

Karen is survived by the love of her life, Richard Wells, her best friend and devoted soulmate,
whom she married on July 1, 2010 and her large family, always her priority, including sons
Michael (Janel) Hyland and Keith Hyland, step children Laura and Daniel Wells, and her six
adoring grandchildren, Ryan, Mark, Evan, Julianne, Addison, and Chailen, all her special pride
and joy. Karen is also survived by three sisters, Amy (Corky) Akins, Kristin Ostarello and Randi
(Larry) Olson, brother Kurt (Colleen) Hanson, sister in law Pam Hanson and many loving nieces,
nephews, god children, in laws and friends. Karen was preceded by her parents, brother Mark
Hanson, and nephew Mitchell Hanson.

Karen will be greatly missed by all she knew and loved for her selflessness, love of life, devotion
to her family, hard work, and as the keeper of the secret fondue recipe shared annually at their
large Christmas Eve family gathering.

In remembrance of Karen, donations to DIFFA/Chicago would be celebrated by her family.
Donations are accepted in her name at www.diffachicago.org

Memorial Visitation will be held Monday August 15, 2022 from 2-8 pm at Fagen-Miller Funeral
Home 8580 Wicker Ave. St. John, Indiana. Visitation Tuesday August 16, 2022 at Fagen-Miller
Funeral Home from 9-9:45 am. Service to follow at 10:30 am at St Paul's Episcopal Church 1101
Park Drive, Munster, IN.
 

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