There are people who light up a room simply by being in it. Karen Marie Hoops was one of those people – and the world is quieter without her.

Karen, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to everyone she ever met, passed away peacefully May 9, 2026. Born on January 19, 1943, in St. Louis, Missouri, Karen was raised in the city she loved and proudly called home before beginning a new chapter alongside her husband Bill, in Fort Myers, Florida.

A graduate of Bayless High School, Karen went on to build a career in healthcare as an administrative assistant in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, and St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where her warmth and dedication touched the lives of colleagues and patients alike.

Karen had a gift in the kitchen that she shared generously and joyfully. From a young age she introduced her children to culinary pleasures such as artichokes and crepes, and she regularly submitted her recipes to the local papers – because when Karen loved something, she wanted everyone else to love it too. She approached life the same way. Her sense of humor was legendary, her April Fool’s jokes were not to be trusted, and her smile had a way of making people feel seen and welcome.

Her secret was simple: she listened. Really listened. She had a rare gift for making whoever she was with feel genuinely heard – and that is why no one ever stayed a stranger around Karen for long.

Karen is survived by her husband of 61 years, William "Bill" Hoops, her children Lynn, and Mark and his partner Michelle Sloan; grandson Luke; brother-in-law Robert "Bob" Hoops; a niece; a nephew; and cousins on both sides of the family who carry her laugh, her spirit – and her recipes – forward.

She was preceded in death by those who were lucky enough to meet her on the other side first.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 18th from 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm at John L. Ziegenhein and Sons Funeral Home – South City Chapel.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 19th at 10:30 am at St. Catherine Laboure, followed immediately by burial at Saints Peter & Paul Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Table for Lou, www.tableforlou.org or the link below.