Karen Buist Obituary

Karen Elise Buist
Onancock, Virginia
September 19, 2024
Mrs. Karen Elise Buist, 64, (Onancock) passed away at Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital in Onley, Virginia, on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
She was welcomed home to heaven by her Lord and Savior. Karen was the daughter of the late Bertil and late Majorie Lindback of Michigan.
Karen graduated from Big Rapids High School, Big Rapids, Michigan, where she met Kevin, who would be the love of her life. They were married on September 18, 1982, in Big Rapids, Michigan. They were married 42 years upon her death.
Together, due to work, they would travel the country, moving 12 times in 14 years, before coming to Virginia's Eastern Shore in 1996.
Together, they raised their family (children), on the shore, and developed many lasting relationships. They made their home in Onancock, Virginia.
Growing up in Michigan, Karen was a competitive swimmer, and a cheerleader through her youth and high school years. She continued to grow these awesome talents and characteristics through the years, and her whole life. Wherever she lived, she reached out and worked as an aquatic specialist, working at community centers, state parks, schools, Ymca's, and the Eastern Shore Yacht and Country Club. Karen was a positive, encouraging force in that over the years. She taught well over a 1,000 people of all ages (mostly children), how to swim, how to improve their strokes and mentor them on building and developing their goals for improvement and success. While doing so, she was always an awesome cheerleader for those she taught, showing the love of Christ and setting a positive example for those she taught. Through the years of her children's competitive careers, she would travel all over supporting her children, and the other children participating in the sport. She would offer her help, volunteering to help wherever she could.
Karen loved sports in general. She enjoyed cheering and watching her favorite college and NFL teams play. She would hang her team's flags in the front yard and cheer for Michigan and Michigan State on Saturdays, and the Steelers and Lions on Sundays.
Karen's heart and contagious smile were infectious and reached so many people. She would treat people as though she'd known them her whole life. Karen loved the Lord, and she loved his people. She was so caring and awesome, that her love and light touched many people who she would encounter. Karen was always thinking of others, and how she could bring a smile or sense of joy to their lives.
Karen is survived by her husband, Kevin of Onancock, Virginia; her son, Chad Buist (Anneliese) of West Virginia; her daughter, Stephanie Hargrove (Broderick) of Norfolk, Virginia; her sister, Nancy Taylor of Michigan; her uncle, Harry Lindback (Mary Jo) of Michigan; her sister-in-law, Darcy Tucker (Monte) of Arizona; her brother-in-law, Jeff Buist of Ohio, and her 7 glorious grandchildren, (Stephanie & Broderick's children) Oryon, Serenity, Lucas, Antoine; (Chad & Anneliese's children) Buck, Fiona, and Patrick; she is survived by so many other family members, friends, and community members from all over the country.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Onley, Virginia. Father Michael Imperial will be officiating. Interment will be planned at a later date, when her husband Kevin has the blessed reunion with her.
Contributions in Karen's memory may be made to : St. Peter's Catholic Church 25236 Onley, Virginia 23415.
Memorial tributes may be made/shared with the family online at www.cornishhollandfh.com
Arrangements are made by the Cornish-Holland Funeral Home.