Karen Ann Rethman-Foll

January 13, 1949 - November 23, 2020

Karen Ann Rethman Foll passed away on November 23 in her home of 23 years in Ashland OR of a brain tumor. She was with her husband and two of her closest friends. Passing was quiet and peaceful under her own terms.. Karen was born on January 13 1949 in Cambridge MA. Spent her early life in Cambridge and the surrounding area until 1977 when she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area. Karen worked for State Street Bank and IBM in Boston. It was when she was with IBM that she moved to San Francisco and there she met her husband, Gary Foll. They were married on Aug 26 1980 on a bicycle trip down the CA coast. She left IBM to attend San Francisco State and achieved BA in computer and finance.. she continued her career with ATT, Bank of America and World Savings all in the S. F . area. In 1977 Karen and her husband moved to Ashland and bought a house in the Rail Road District and lived there until her death. After arriving in Ashland she volunteered to be a stitcher and later was hired in the OSF costume shop. She was later offered a a job to establish a Costume Rental Business and was Costume Rental manager for 10 years until her retirement in 2012. She was quite active in sewing and knitting groups in Ashland, Medford area. She belonged to the American Sewing Guild, Bear Creek Knitters and was in a small art to wear group. Ask Karen’s friends and they will tell you she was a welcoming and gracious hostess, had a great laugh, was wickedly funny, a great planner and was always working on some project. She was organized, could pack three weeks of clothes into a itty bitty carry on, enthusiastic, and had a lovely creative streak. They will also tell you she “was not one to suffer fools”. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her and loved her. Karen and her husband , Gary Foll, loved to travel and did so from the time they met..Both were active cyclist and did many bike trips in the US and Europe. Her favorite places to bike were in Italy and England. Together she and her husband traveled to 9 countries . Among her favorites were a trip to South Africa with a wine tour group where they spent 4 days at Thula Thula Elephant reserve. Another was a Rhode Scholar trip to Cuba. She is survived by her husband, Gary Foll, a step daughter ,Yvonne Foll of Half Moon Bay CA, her cousins Jackie Ferraguto, Beth Rizzo, Robin Gilroy, Ellen Hinchey, Susan Olson and Mark Bash all of the Massachusetts area. She also had a stepsister , Elaine Rethman LaCoursiere , who she had just discovered through Ancestory. Karen was able to visit Elaine last summer in MA. A celebration of Karens life will be held early next year. Donations in Karen’s honor can be made to Access and the local food banks.