Our beloved mother and grandmother, Karen Jeanette Ragusa, of Murrieta, California, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, surrounded by her family and friends as she made her final journey home, at the age of 81 years young.
She was born on September 27, 1941, in Neodesha, Kansas to Marjorie Mae Hixon and William Pleasant Cheney. She was an only child but grew up surrounded by her aunts, uncles, and many cousins. She had fond memories of playing on her grandparents’ farm, playing with her cousins, making mud pies to use as discs to throw at each other for fun.
She attended Neodesha High School and graduated in 1959. Soon after graduation Karen ventured to Oklahoma to further her education at the IBM school where she studied electronics and communications, which led her to a job as a switchboard operator for a short time.
In the mid 1960’s, Karen moved to Southern California, and worked for Chicago Title for many years. She later went to work as a secretary for Plaza Glass Company, where she met Frank Ragusa. As time went on, their relationship grew, and he would later become her husband of 49 years.
Karen and Frank moved to Temecula/Murrieta Valley in 1989 to build their dream home together. At this time, she began working in the front office for Dr. Ronald Becker, until her retirement around 2010.
Karen was a wonderful fun-loving mother and grandmother who loved to live life to the fullest. She had a brilliant light and vibrance that shined through to everyone she met. She had a vivacious and spunky personality that was infectious. She was known around town as one of the “Golden Girls”. She enjoyed shopping at “The Boutique” to pick out outfits that matched her bright personality, playing cards, bingo, bunko and talking with her many friends. She enjoyed many adventures in life; from tackling the open seas with Frank to road trips across the country with her daughter and family.
Her smile and laughter will be missed by all. She has truly been a blessing to this world and her absence will be felt by many.
Karen is survived by her loving daughter Kimberly (James) Budrakey, stepdaughters Linda Lewis, Michelle Valenzuela and Jennifer Smith; grandchildren Krystal (Mike) Anderson, Austin (Holly) Budrakey, DeAnn Haggstrom, Frank Valenzuela, Shelby (Philip) Zehr; and numerous great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents Marjorie and William Cheney and her husband Frank Ragusa.
The family wishes to express their most sincere gratitude to Dr. Pranav Barve, M.D. and Hope Hospice of Sun City, California.
Visitation will be Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Evans Brown Mortuary in Sun City, California. Funeral services to begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery.