Karen Dubea

Karen Lee (Smith) Dubea, 59, passed away from Alzheimer's on March 18, 2022 at home while surrounded by her husband and sons. Karen was born on January 14, 1963 in Rochester, IN to Fred and Joan Smith. Karen attended Tri-County High School, and then graduated from Jefferson High School in 1981. During her senior year of high school, Karen worked at Kiddie Kollege Day Care, where she met the director’s son, Lance Dubea. They fell in love and got married on October 15, 1983 at the Lafayette First Church of the Nazarene. While Lance was stationed stationed at Wurtsmith AFB, Karen graduated from Alpena Community College in general studies. Karen raised two awesome sons, Tyler Dubea and Landon Dubea. She could frequently be heard at her sons sporting events whistling and cheering them on. Karen was a very active member of the First Church of the Nazarene, where over the years she served as a Sunday school teacher, on the missions team, and in the choir, among other things. Karen also loved to be a host, planning parties, events, and other get togethers. One of her favorite Sunday activities was to watch the Indianapolis Colts, and loved the tight end of their tight end, Dallas Clark! Karen had an an affinity for leisure, enjoying her Princess Cruises, time in the Caribbean, and any other place where she could be in the sun. Karen enjoyed spending time with family and friends, particularly her twin sister Kim, whom Karen loved to remind she was 43 minutes older than! In 2009 Karen became a mimi to Addisyn Dubea, who Karen absolutely loved to spoil! Karen spent most of her life working in medical administration, at Arnett Clinic, Anesthesiology Associates, and Unity Health Care. While Karen was always a hard worker, she always found time to try to be caller number 10 on the radio call in contests! She loved to watch The Today Show, Regis & Kathy Lee and participate in their occasional contests as well. On November 10, 2011, at the age of 48 years young Karen received devastating news; she was diagnosed with Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s. Karen’s friends and family immediately circled the wagons, and became Team Karen for the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, raising over $50,000. In 2016, the KLD Alzheimer’s Foundation was formed by friends and family to raise even more money to fight Alzheimer’s, and fund Care and Research through their partners: Joyful Journey in West Lafayette (where Karen was a Friend for a year!), and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation in New York City. To date, the Foundation has raised over $300,000! Karen; daughter, sister (sissy), wife, mom (momma), mother-in-law, mimi and friend will be missed dearly by all who knew her. We all look forward to seeing her in Heaven one day. She is survived by her beloved husband, Lance Dubea of Lafayette, IN; sons Tyler (Meghann) Dubea of West Lafayette, IN, and Landon (Chantel Conley) Dubea of Lafayette, IN; grand-daughter Addisyn Dubea of West Lafayette, IN; father Fred (Carolyn) Smith of Lafayette, IN; twin sister Kim (Rick) Krejci of Stevensville, MT; brother Mike (Charmin) Smith of Brookston, IN; sister Kathy Huseman of Lafayette, IN; step sisters Leslie Matteson of Lafayette, IN, Louann (Mark) Albregts of Romney, IN, and Candace (Michael) Highhouse of Lafayette, IN; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the KLD Alzheimer’s Foundation (www.kldfoundation.org or may be mailed to 401 Main Street, Suite 2E, Lafayette, IN 47901). Visitation will be held on Friday, March 25, 2022 from 5pm to 8pm at First Church of the Nazarene. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 10am at First Church of the Nazarene, 201 Veterans Memorial Parkway East, Lafayette, IN 47905, Pastor Michael Watson, Pastor William Scott and Mr. Steve Pettry officiating. Interment will follow the services in Meadow View Cemetery. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home is honored to serve the Dubea family. Please leave memories and condolences at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com