Karen Jean Rohatynsky (née Hansen), longtime resident of Grande Prairie, AB, was reunited with the Lord on September 24, 2025, at the age of 82. Her daughter, Jackie, was by her side.

Karen was born on August 19, 1943, in Revelstoke, BC, to Ludvig and Mary Hansen. She was the youngest of seven children and grew up well-loved by all of them.

She met and married George Rohatynsky in November of 1963, and they soon welcomed two daughters, Jacqueline and Micheline. Karen was happy being a stay-at-home mom for the first bunch of years while the girls were young. Lots of memories of handmade clothes, iffy meals that got way better over the years, and amazing donuts come to mind, but there was always laughter in the house, and everyone was welcome.

When the girls were in school full-time, George convinced Karen—over I’m sure more than a couple of Spanish coffees—to start a band with one of George’s friends, Lawrence. Even though Karen didn’t play an instrument, she surprisingly learned to play the drums fairly quickly. (Years later, when a car accident made playing drums too difficult, she took up playing the bass guitar instead.) From there, The Cen-Tels were formed. They played all over the Lower Mainland and up the coast at all kinds of functions, and in time, became the house band at the Windjammer Pub in New Westminster. They played there until George was offered a manager position at Procter & Gamble in Grande Prairie in 1980. After they moved to Grande Prairie, they started attending a few different churches and playing the gospel. They were very active members of the Believers Full Gospel Assembly and enjoyed playing the gospel there until George’s passing in 2021. Karen enjoyed the ministry and was especially fond of and active with a few ladies’ groups and Bible studies in town. She had a quiet strength within her and was a gentle soul that always tried to see the best in people. She was always ready to pitch in when needed but was also just as content to be at home working on a craft or reading.

The church, family, and working at P&G kept Karen busy, but she and George looked forward to road trips whenever they could sneak away. With most of the family in various towns in BC and Saskatchewan, and Edmonton less than five hours away, that meant they put on lots of miles over the years. They did enjoy travelling outside Canada as well, but trips to visit the Hansen and Clausen family branches in Denmark were Karen and George’s favourite.

Karen will be sadly missed but lovingly remembered by daughter Jackie Burbank (née Rohatynsky); son-in-law Blaine Burbank; granddaughters Devon Burbank and Taylor Burbank; son-in-law Joe Charbonneau; grandson Lincoln Rohatynsky; great-grandchildren Jaxon, Jaydyn, Aubrey, and Sawyer; sister Greta (Ray) Speerbrecker; brother-in-law David (Yvonne) Rohatynsky; sister-in-law Valerie Rathgeber (née Rohatynsky); as well as many nieces and nephews.

She will also be remembered dearly by her circle of girlfriends that she shared her love of life and the Lord with.

Karen was predeceased by her parents, Ludvig (Louie) Hansen and Mary Hansen (née Clausen); husband of 59 years, George Rohatynsky; daughter Micheline Rohatynsky; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Edith (Hans) Christensen, Irma (Frank) Grace, Louise “Lou” (Phillip) Breck, and Elsie (Ray) Cunningham; along with brother Hans “Hanny” (Gwen) Hansen. She was also predeceased by nephew Hans (Freddy) Grace; in-laws Daniel “Dan” (Mable, née Kolebaba) Rohatynsky; and brother-in-law Clarence “Clancy” Rathgeber.

Thank you to the doctors, nurses, and support staff at the Grande Prairie Care Centre and home care for looking after and helping Karen in the last part of her life’s journey.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Believers Full Gospel Assembly (10711 – 100 Street). Interment to follow at the Grande Prairie Cemetery (84th Ave & 112th Street). A luncheon will follow at the church.

Flowers can be sent to Oliver’s Funeral Home (10005 107 Ave), or in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to a church or charity of one’s choosing.

A Livestream of Karen's service will be available on Believers Full Gospel Assembly's Facebook Page. See Livestream Link Below