Obituary
Karen Joyce Balbi, beloved daughter, wife, mother, aunt and friend, passed away on January 6, 2024. She was 48.
Born to Mary and Rolando King on March 7, 1975, in Queens, New York, she was a proud “city girl.” She attended Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy and St. Francis Preparatory School in her home borough. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1997 and earned her master’s degree in physical therapy at Utica University in 2001.
Karen met her husband, Christopher, during college. They were married in 2002 and, that year, moved to Long Island, where they would go on to build a beautiful family together.
Those who were lucky enough to know Karen were blessed with a friend who prioritized family, love and faith everyday of her life. At any family gathering, you were guaranteed to hear her voice asking, “Can I help?” That sentiment was a driving force in not only her personal life but also her professional. In her more than 15 years as a physical therapist at Northwell Health, she helped hundreds of patients.
Karen had a friendly and welcoming personality. She was chatty and curious, showing genuine interest and care for each person she spoke to. Her smile and laugh were infectious. She could put anyone at ease and make them feel welcome and loved. She was thoughtful, too, never forgetting a birthday or anniversary. And she had real vigor and enthusiasm for life, always excited to try new things. She passed that energy on to her children, Emily and Logan, of whom she was so proud.
She would have told you, of all her successes, being a mother was her biggest one of all. She adored Emily and Logan more than anything. She and Chris filled their nights and weekends with their children’s recitals, softball and soccer games, and more. Karen was and always will be Emily and Logan’s biggest fan.
To quote a recent Mother’s Day card from her daughter, Karen “tries to be perfect but I know she already is.”
