Karen Delia Connell

Karen Delia Connell, 67, of Bethlehem, died on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Holy Family Manor in Bethlehem. She was born in Somerville, New Jersey, the daughter of the late John "Jack" and Eleanor (Boyland) Connell.

Karen attended Syracuse University where she received a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in the School of Speech and Dramatic Arts. She later completed doctoral coursework in Performance Studies at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Beginning in 1963 and for the majority of her life and career, Karen was a professional in the theatre and performing arts, serving as a director, choreographer, dancer, actor, designer, producer, and educator in over 87 professional productions for and featuring children and adults. Locally, Karen worked with Allentown Public Theatre (where she also served on the Board of Directors); Muhlenberg College Camp Imagine; Muhlenberg College Summer Music Theatre; The Swain School; Stage Door Workshop; Northampton Community College; Moravian Academy; and TheatrEast, Inc. Over the tenure of her arts career, she was co-founder and president of World Voices, Inc. and owner and director of Serendipity Theatre School. She also worked with AGBU Arts Repertory Company in New York; Center Stage of the Hunterdon Art Center, New Jersey; the Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey; Somerset County Community College, New York; Kean College of New Jersey; Danse Allegresse of Hunterdon Center for the Performing Arts, New Jersey; Salt City Playhouse in Syracuse, New York; the State University of New York Theatre Association; Auburn Children's Theatre in Auburn, New York; Springside Dinner Theatre in Auburn, New York; Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York; the National Association of Dance & Affiliated Artists; Danse Allegresse at the Eleanor Connell School of Dance in Annandale, New Jersey; and the Gateway Theatre of Somers Point, New York.

As an educator, Karen served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Wescoe School at Muhlenberg College; a faculty member in the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania; a teacher, director and choreographer at The Swain School in Allentown and The Jewish Community Center in Allentown; an adjunct professor of speech and drama at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem; a staff instructor at New York University; an adjunct assistant professor in the communications department at Seton Hall University in New York; an adjunct assistant professor in the Speech/Theatre/Media Department of Kean College of New Jersey; an independent study supervisor at Empire State College in New York; an instructor at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York; a teacher of english and drama at Camillus High School in Camillus, New York; and as an adjunct instructor in the Departments of Oral Interpretation and Special Education at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. She was a research assistant to Dr. A. Wm. Bluem, Professor, of the Newhouse School of Communication, during a project that culminated in the creation of the Museum of Broadcast History in New York City.

In 1997, Karen began pursuing her other lifelong passion of advocacy, healing, and social justice, by earning a Master of Social Work degree (with honors) from Marywood University. Since 2001, she has worked as a Clinical Therapist & Licensed Clinical Social Worker, often focusing on using the arts for healing and development. Locally, Karen has worked for Northwestern Human Services in Bethlehem; New Vitae Partial Hospital, Inc. in Limeport; Step-By-Step, Inc., Lehigh Valley in Bethlehem; and Valley Youth House in Allentown. As a Creative Arts Therapist, she also worked with the Community Music School in Allentown, and under a grant from Linny and Beall Fowler.

In the field of Social Work, Karen also served as a field instructor and lecturer for Marywood University School of Social Work students and Interns; a Clinical Supervisor for licensure in clinical social work and licensed professional counseling, and was a Certified Instructor and Disaster Mental Health Responder for the American Red Cross.

Over the course of her life, Karen was also involved with the American Clinical Social Work Association; the Lehigh Valley Creative Arts Therapists Network; the Lehigh Valley Arts Council; the President's Commission of the Status of Women and subcommittee on Student Safety at Kutztown University; and the National Association of Social Work. At various times, she served on the Boards of Directors for the Friends of Music of Bethlehem; the Young People's Philharmonic in Bethlehem; the Pocono Youth Chamber Orchestra of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; and the Clymer Public Library in Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania. She was an Leader Alumnae of La Leche League International; the founder and President of the Clinton Music Hall Preservation Society in Clinton, New Jersey; and a former Program Coordinator for Cultural Programming (Elementary Schools) in the Pocono Mountain School District in Pennsylvania.

At Ss. Simon and Jude's Church in Bethlehem; and Our Lady of the Lake Church in Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania, she was the founder and director of the Joyful Noise Children's Choir, Joyful Noise High School Choir, Young People's Liturgy Group, and Youth Liturgy Group.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children, David Connell Olsher of Baltimore, Maryland; and Sharon Diane Olsher of Quakertown; her sister, Mimi Connell of Annandale, NJ and her many cousins, including April Woodhull of New Jersey, Kirsten Sham of Utah, and Rick Boyland of Michigan.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. at Ss. Simon and Jude's Catholic Church, 730 West Broad St., Bethlehem. A viewing will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. at the church. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Connell Funeral Home, Inc. 245 East Broad St., Bethlehem.

Donations in Karen's memory may be made to the following organizations:

Touchstone Theatre Young Playwrights Ensemble

please make checks payable to "Touchstone Theatre"

Memo: "Young Playwrights Ensemble, in Memory of Karen Connell"

Touchstone Theatre

attn: Lisa Jordan

321 East 4th Street

Bethlehem, PA 18015

Muhlenberg College Camp Imagine

please make checks payable to "Muhlenberg College"

Memo: "Camp Imagine, in Memory of Karen Connell"

Muhlenberg College Department of Theatre & Dance

attn: Scott Snyder

2400 Chew Street

Allentown, PA 18104-5586

Memorial Service
Monday, November 11, 2013
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Connell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US
610-868-8531

Gathering
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
SS Simon & Jude Catholic Church
730 W. Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US

Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
7:00 PM
SS Simon & Jude Catholic Church
730 W. Broad St.
Bethlehem PA 18018
US

Funeral HomeConnell Funeral Home, Inc.
245 East Broad St.
Bethlehem PA - 18018
US
610-868-8531