Karen Ostash

Karen Marie (Anderson) Ostash

Karen Ostash - a faithful woman focused on family and community – peacefully passed on February 7, 2026 surrounded by family in Los Angeles, California, from complications due to cancer.

She was born September 29, 1946 in St. Charles, Illinois, into a close-knit family of six siblings. She often shared her nostalgia for a wonderful upbringing by loving parents and a wholesome, midwestern life. Always focused on family, church, and school events, Karen developed into an accomplished scholar, musician, and all-around talent. Upon her graduation from Illinois Wesleyan with her B.S.N. in 1968 she adventured out to sunny California to work “for just one year” as a Registered Nurse at LA County Hospital and then return home; except, that’s where a very starry-eyed Los Angeles young man asked her on a lunch date. The rest is history!

Karen lived the rest of her impactful life in Glendale, CA and blessed her family with the influence of her Anderson family roots and Swedish heritage. Karen became a proud and devoted wife of 55 years to her beloved husband, Robert Michael Ostash. Together they raised three children in a loving and supportive home. You simply could not find a mother and grandmother more focused on providing every resource needed to assure health and success. She did so much for us – she sang, read, scratch-cooked, (always gathered around the family table with linen, candles lit, a prayer, and fellowship), and guided us with unwavering love. Her selfless commitment to us was exemplified every day of her life, whether it was claiming she actually liked eating the heels of the loaf of bread, or working a night shift at the hospital to help pay for college costs.

Worshipping and singing at First Lutheran Church, playing the piano, living and traveling alongside her husband, visiting grandchildren, reading, and contributing to her community were some of her favorite pastimes. During the earlier years she served as Fremont Elementary School PTA President and earned Alpha Tau Delta (ATD) “Woman of the Year.” Her active lifelong membership with several dear friends in ATD (professional nursing fraternity) helped raise funds to support nursing students and advance the nursing career. Karen lived a life of purpose and service, and in so doing, made a real difference.

Karen is survived by her loving husband, Robert Ostash and her children, David (Sarah) Ostash, Michael (Melissa) Ostash, and Alicen (Chris) Boulais; her siblings Christine (John) Adolphi, David (Sharon) Anderson, Paul (Paula) Anderson, Ruth Anderson, and Richard (Carol) Anderson; her grandchildren Ian Muse, Kathryn Van Lingen, Aden Ostash, Annalise Ostash, Nolan Shiner, Norah Shiner, Anderson Shiner, Autumn Ostash, and Kaila Boulais; her 9 nieces and nephews; and her 13 great nieces and nephews.

Karen is preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Violet (Wilson) Anderson.

Karen taught her family to be contributing members of society. We are all living into that calling and draw upon her example as a daily source of inspiration. As she wrote in all her cards to us, “We love you forever!”

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 1:30 pm, at Forest Lawn, Glendale, at Church of the Recessional.