Karen L. Hartnett

Karen Joan LaMacchia Hartnett (69) rode on eagle’s wings to her final resting place in heaven on May 15, 2024. Karen had a mighty spirit within a petite package, a strong woman who lived for time with her family, especially her beloved husband, Bill Hartnett, for 48 beautiful years of marriage. 

Karen was born on December 26, 1954, in Takoma Park, Maryland, to Frank Richard LaMacchia and Lillian Johanna (Terrono) LaMacchia. Karen spent her childhood around the world with her three older sisters and parents in Kenya, South Korea, Germany, Iraq, and stateside in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Karen’s boundless love of animals started in childhood and continued throughout her life with her family dogs Pepe and Misty and her cherished horses Judge and Copper. In August 1974, Karen met the love of her life, Bill, in college at the University of Maryland, where Karen went on to graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in economics. From the beginning, Karen and Bill were an inseparable pair, always seeking adventures in natural beauty, from honeymooning on the coast of Maine, hiking the Catoctin Mountains, and biking countless miles along the Potomac and Great Falls. Karen and Bill’s biggest adventure of all began with the birth of their first child in 1977. Karen lovingly gave birth to five children – John, Mary, Anthony, Elizabeth, and Joseph – and raised her family with Bill in Bowie, Maryland. Karen was an unwavering fixture of the Tall Oaks neighborhood for 35 years, and could be seen regularly running, biking, speed walking, and chatting with neighbors.   Karen’s Catholic faith was a pillar of her life. She was a devoted member and lector of St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church for 44 years. 

Karen was known for her keen intellect, sharp wit, and precise attention to detail, which was fully on display during her 12-year career as a top-performing real estate agent with Long & Foster Realtors. In retirement, she enjoyed time with her family, as the proud grandmother (“Grammy”) of 9 (soon-to-be 10) grandchildren, who loved to support them at every opportunity, going to sporting events, plays, and grandparents’ days at school.

Karen was a brilliant woman, who deeply loved her husband and family, her neighbors, and all animals, so much so that she was vegan for many years, one of the many ways her steadfast values guided her life. Her immense capacity to remember all of the details of her children’s and grandchildren’s lives was enviable, not to mention helpful for important reminders! She loved being a mother and wife, riding horses, being in nature, reading novels, eating all things chocolate, waking up to bright mornings, and relaxing with quiet evenings at home with Bill.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Lillian, and her sister Linda. She is survived by her eternally loving husband, Bill; her five children, John, Mary, Anthony, Elizabeth, and Joseph; her nine grandchildren, Jaden, Brady, Liliana, Evan, Rachel, Owen, Julian, Nolan, and Kian; her sisters, Christine Battle and Diane LaMacchia, nieces Nicki and Deena, and nephew Martin.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, May 22, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Beall Funeral Home (6512 Crain Hwy Bowie, MD). A funeral will be held on Thursday, May 23, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Bowie, Maryland.