Karen L. Picard

Karen Louise Edwards Picard, 79, of Woodbury, Connecticut, passed peacefully into the arms of heaven on the morning of January 9, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Hollywood, California, Karen was the cherished daughter of Evelyn and Thomas Edwards. She spent most of her life growing up in Connecticut where she brought a joyful spirit to everything she did - playing the guitar, singing, and dancing. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1965, where she first caught the eye of a young Alain Picard, who noticed “the most beautiful girl he had ever seen” while standing atop a ladder setting up for a school dance.

Faith was woven into Karen’s life from the start. While studying with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur between 1965 and 1968, she deepened that faith and shared her joy in the most Karen way possible: guitar in hand, ready with a song.

Karen graduated from Sacred Heart University, and in 1971 she and her mother made local headlines as the first mother-daughter pair to graduate from Stamford Hospital’s School of Nursing.

A devoted mental health nurse, Karen spent the majority of her career caring for some of the most vulnerable members of her community. Later in life, she continued her calling as a per diem nurse throughout Fairfield County, sharing her compassion and insight with every patient she encountered. Her commitment to serving others extended far beyond her profession. She volunteered with Hopeline Crisis Pregnancy Center and served with the Kairos Prison Ministry, offering support and encouragement to youth at Cheshire and Garner correctional facilities.

Helping others was at the center of Karen’s life. She offered kindness, guidance, and support to anyone who needed it - family, friends, or strangers at the door. Her home was always a place of welcome, whether someone needed a meal, a quiet rest, or a caring listener. She lived out her faith in everyday ways, touching more lives than she ever knew.

Karen is survived by her devoted husband of 54 years, Alain Picard; her children, Erin Picard DiLillo and her husband James DiLillo, Alan “AJ” Picard and his wife Mirjam Picard, and Danielle Picard; as well as her beloved grandchildren, Haley Nielsen, Emma Nielsen, Lucas Picard, and Joshua Picard. She is also survived by her siblings Stephen Edwards, Laurie Sercue, Jonathan Edwards, Lawrence Edwards, and Louise Edwards, and is predeceased by her siblings Thomas Edwards, David Edwards, and Michael Edwards.

Karen’s joy, her faith, and her constant love for others will live on in the hearts of everyone she touched.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 17th at 11:00 AM at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, Connecticut. All who knew and loved Karen are warmly welcome.

To leave an online condolence please visit munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.