Obituary of Karen Mary Rackliffe

Karen Mary (Poulin) Rackliffe, 70, of Glastonbury passed away unexpectedly at home on Monday, July 19, 2021. She was the beloved wife of Daniel J. Rackliffe.

Born in Putnam, she was the daughter of Mary A. (Jodoin) Poulin and the late David Poulin. Karen is a former resident of Rocky Hill and Hartford, moving to Glastonbury forty-six years ago. She worked as an Accountant for the Aetna Insurance Agency in their Real Estate Division for many years.

In addition to Karen’s husband and mother, she is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Russell Malz of South Glastonbury, her grandchildren Rielly, Kacey and Mallory Malz, her sister Pamela Thomas and her husband Mark of FL, and her nephew Nic Thomas, also of FL.

Karen was happiest while boating in the coastal waters of New England on her and Dan’s floating retreat, Morning Star, based in Mystic, CT. This was especially true when she shared the waves with her beloved daughter and her family. At CrossFit Persevere, Karen discovered her strength. She competed twice in the CrossFit Games, excelling in her age category. In the CrossFit community she found renewed confidence, a genuine circle of friends and a sense of true belonging. It was a perfect “fit.”

As Meme, she cherished the time she spent supporting her granddaughters, reveling in their successes at both sporting events and their countless dance recitals. With three girls, there was always a chance to cheer. Each year each girl enjoyed their own personal “Meme Cake,” an annual creation that was reputed to “taste better than any cake ever.” Surely, it was the love, carefully baked in.

Her gifts, bedecked with bows and personalized ornaments, were art before they were ever opened, and she was renowned by friends and family alike for her ability to choose uniquely perfect cards and presents for every possible occasion. The joy she took in choosing and wrapping these offerings shone through every time.

A Celebration of Karen’s Life will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 11:00 am at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Friends may call on Saturday, July 24, 2021 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the funeral home. Guests are encouraged to wear blue, Karen’s favorite color.

Karen loved hydrangea flowers, especially when they were blue. Next time you see one, remember her, feel her delight, and pass the joy along to the next person you see. Know that it would make her happy, too.

In lieu of flowers at the funeral home, the family requests that donations be made to NAMI Connecticut, https://namict.org/ 1030 New Britain Avenue, Suite 201 West Hartford, CT 06110 or Habitat for Humanity https://www.habitat.org/support