Karen Ann Grula, 70, of Wilkes-Barre Township, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Allied Services Hospice Center in Wilkes-Barre.

Karen was born in Edwardsville on December 9, 1955, daughter of the late William and Marie Karolchyk Kushner. She was a 1973 graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School. Karen was employed as a bookkeeper at Eastern Pennsylvania Supply Company for 43 years, until her retirement in 2017.

Karen was a member of St. Andrew Parish in Wilkes-Barre, where she served as a lector and member of the Finance Committee. She was also a volunteer in the parish office and at many fundraising functions and dinners, that she and her husband co-chaired. She was a devout Catholic and never missed Mass. She was especially devoted to the Blessed Mother and honored her by praying a daily rosary.

Karen was the president of the Jonathan Grula Memorial Foundation. She and her husband, Robert, founded it in 2000 in memory of their late son, Jonathan who passed away from leukemia in 1999. The foundation benefits the Four Diamonds Fund, Hershey which helps children with cancer and is active in pediatric cancer research. The foundation has raised over $ 425,000.00 for the Four Diamonds Fund.

In addition to her parents and her son Jonathan, Karen was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Patti Kushner and by her brother-in-law, Richard Grula.

Karen is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Robert Grula and by her brother, William Kushner, Edwardsville; sister-in-law, Janet Pacovsky and her husband, Barry, Kingston; brother-in-law, Gregory Grula, Charlton, MA; nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and many dear friends.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 5-7 pm at the Nat Gawlas Jordan Funeral Home, 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 9:30 am from the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10 am in St. Andrew Parish, 316 Parrish Street, Wilkes-Barre. Her Pastor, Rev. Vincent Dang, will officiate. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Memorial donations may be made to the Jonathan Grula Memorial Foundation, 1144 Spruce Street, Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702.

Karen’s husband and family would like to thank the staff Allied Services Hospice and the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for their special care, especially the infusion nurses.

Condolences may be sent by visiting Karen’s obituary at www.ngjfuneral.com.