Karen Cecilia Archer, 55, of Bridgeport, passed away Thursday (Nov. 27, 2008) at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. She was born Sept. 26, 1953 in Brooklyn, N.Y., a daughter of the late Dolores O'Connor Hemmerle. In addition to her mother, her two children, Christopher Shawn Archer and Kelley Anne Archer, preceded her in death. Karen was a member of the All Saints Catholic Church in Bridgeport and was a member of the Pastoral Service Team for the Charismatic Renewal in West Virginia. She served on the board of directors for the Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown and was also a founding member of "Candlelighters," an organization at West Virginia University Hospitals which provides support to families with children suffering from cancer. She also volunteered to provide Christmas dinners at the Clarksburg United Methodist Church for those less fortunate in the community. She formerly played guitar for a contemporary Christian music group. Karen was a homemaker and was a wonderful caregiver for 20 years to her two children, Christopher and Kelley Anne, who battled cancer. In 2005, she graduated with a degree in interior design from Fairmont State University and started her own business, "Ready for Resale." For Karen, her family and most especially her children always came first in her life. Survivors include her husband, Jim Archer of Bridgeport; three children, K.C. Lewis and her husband Chad of Stonewood; and James Archer and Andrew Archer, both of Bridgeport; five brothers and sisters, Jerry Hemmerle and his wife Kathleen of Staten Island, N.Y.; Debbie Florentino and her husband Mike of East Stroudsburg, Pa.; Michael Hemmerle of New York, N.Y.; Donna Gruder of Fairfield, Calif.; Thomas Hemmerle and his wife Betsy of Ridgewood, N.J.; seven grandchildren, Veronica, Kaitlyn and Bethany Grace Lewis; and Christopher, Sean, Benjamin and Molly Archer. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends will be received at the All Saints Catholic Church, 317 East Main St., Bridgeport from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday. A vigil service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the church. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in the church at 11 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Father Harry N. Cramer, the Rev. Father Hilarion V. Cann and the Rev. Father Pasty Iaquinta as celebrants. The interment will follow at the Bridgeport Cemetery in Bridgeport. The Archer family has entrusted arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home, Allen Chapel, 215 E. Main Street, Bridgeport, WV.
Published in the Times West Virginian from 11/29/2008 - 12/1/2008