Karen S. Della Bernarda

Karen (Schlichting) Della Bernarda, age 83, Cumming, GA passed away peacefully December 6, 2024. She was born on Oct. 29, 1941, in Hartford, CT to the late Lloyd and Charlotte (Wirth) Schlichting.

A graduate of East Windsor High School, Karen went on to work at Aetna insurance company. Following her marriage to her husband Harvey, she stayed home to raise three children. As her kids grew, she began working at Helen’s Hallmark in Marietta, GA as a sales associate and manager. Relocating four times for Harvey’s career, she approached each move as a new challenge and family experience, working to minimize the disruption to her family. Karen will be remembered for her love of cooking - always having the right recipe for every occasion, especially her famous coffee cake, her beautiful penmanship, and love of her Irish-German heritage, but most of all, for being a devoted and loving wife, Mom, and Grammy.

She leaves behind her loving husband of 62 years, Harvey Della Bernarda, three children, Heather (Chet) Calhoun, their daughters Randi (Nick) Samples and Jackie (Greg) Giera, Hilary (Rick Hanson) Della Bernarda, Rick’s son Kyle, and Dean (Cecile) Della Bernarda, their son Robert, all of Atlanta, as well as six great grandchildren, a sister-in-law, Elaine Gerlt, and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, sister Charlotte Ford, and brothers-in-law Robert Ford, Richard Della Bernarda, and Ronald Della Bernarda.

A service to celebrate Karen’s life will be held graveside at Sawnee View Gardens in Cumming, GA on March 21, 2025 at 11 AM, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.