Karen Suzanne Spence, born on June 20, 1957, in Nashville, TN, passed away Jan. 1, 2019, in New York City. She was 61. The daughter of Dorothy Carroll Small Spence and Earl Patterson Spence, she moved to New York City as a child and spent most of her life on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. For approximately the last 10 years she lived in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.

Karen graduated from NYU with a B.S. in Exercise Science & Nutrition and worked as a personal trainer and manager of a gym. Karen had many close relationships, most importantly with her 21 year old son, Justin, of whom she was very proud. She had a deep affection for animals and cared for many homeless cats & dogs in her neighborhood of the Bronx. Other interests mirrored her chosen profession: physical fitness, health, nutrition, and running. 

Predeceased by her parents, Karen is survived by her loving son, Justin McCallion, her brother, Michael Spence and her close circle of friends.

Memorial gathering on Saturday January 12th 2019 from 1-4 pm at Riverdale-on-Hudson Funeral Home, 6110 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx NY.