07/12/2026
For those who haven’t heard yet, Mark Ahrens wife Karen went to be with Jesus on Monday. This is her son Luke’s account on CaringBridge.org
There are more recent posts there as well.
Karen Ahrens
Jul 7, 2026
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
(This is Luke, Karen's son, writing)
John 11:25–26 (ESV) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
As a family, we want to thank you for all your love and prayers for Mom over the last two months as she wrestled with various illnesses. God has been our comfort in this challenging season.
It is with both sadness and joy that we want to inform you that Mom/Karen went into the presence of Jesus yesterday (Monday). We realize that for some of you this news is coming as a bit of a shock. Honestly, Mom’s quick turn was a surprise to us all.
Let me back up a bit. After a few weeks of struggling to eat and suffering from fluid build up around her abdomen, we found out that Mom had ovarian cancer in mid-May. The cancer had spread to the abdomen area as well. Over the next few weeks we jumped into looking for treatment options, including starting chemotherapy and eventually surgery. Each of the Mom’s kids and their spouses jumped into help in various ways to come around Dad as he supported and cared for Mom. We were also blessed to have a few nurses close to our family advising us on finding the right care options for Mom.
However, mom continued to struggle greatly with vomiting–really any food she ate. This led to increasing weakness over a few weeks, including a hospital stay to deal with pneumonia. We all worked hard to settle on a cancer treatment option to help care for Mom. God opened doors quickly, and we were able to get her under the care of City of Hope Cancer Center. A plan of care was set up and Mom received her first (and only) chemo treatment two weeks ago. We were hopeful that the chemo would start hitting the cancer around her abdomen and bring some relief. She needed to begin building up physical strength for upcoming treatments/surgery.
Meanwhile Mom continued to get weaker and weaker. Multiple other attempts to build up Mom’s nutrition base did not work effectively.
On Thursday, July 2, Mom was admitted to the hospital again. We began to realize that Mom might be coming up on the end of her time with us. Mom developed more health problems, including an embolism in one lung and fluid in the other lung.
By Saturday, we realized that probably God was about to call Mom home to heaven. All seven of us kids and Mom’s three sisters quickly flew into Chicago to be with her. Mom was at peace with what God was doing. She was grateful for the life God had given her and was ready to follow Jesus into eternity.
Sunday was both hard and beautiful. It became clear that she was ready to go into hospice. On Saturday and Sunday she (and Dad) were surrounded by a steady stream of incoming kids/spouses, her sisters, and grandkids coming in to see her. Her life’s work and love were surrounding her with love, encouragement and flowers. Her eyes brighted up as family member after family member poured into the room. By Sunday night all seven of her kids were with her.
At 8:00p on Sunday night we had one of the most beautiful hours of my life. Mom and Dad and the seven of us kids were all in the room sharing beautiful words of love with Mom. Mom’s mind was clear–she even cracked a touching joke. The love and grace of God were present. God was giving Mom the most amazing sendoff she could have wanted. The family all together in an atmosphere of love and peace. So touching. Thank you God for this moment in the midst of pain.
Then later in the evening Mom was transported to a lovely hospice location; we helped get her settled in. Dad and David were with her overnight. In the middle of the night she continued to get closer to the end of this life. On Monday morning the seven of us kids and Mom’s three sisters were with her in her hospice room. Her breathing was increasingly labored. Tears around the room. Then Mom slipped peacefully into the presence of Jesus. Forever with her Savior. It was a sacred moment. A beautiful, peaceful earthly sunset for an amazing woman surrounded by the people who loved her.
I am still numb typing these words. Mom is gone with Jesus. It happened so fast. But it was so beautiful and peaceful–a gift of grace to Mom and all of us.
These last two months it was special to see each of Mom’s kids, spouses, and some loving friends come around Mom and Dad to both fight for her and care for her in this cancer/health battle. We fought together to give her every chance to recover, until it was obvious that God was calling her home. I was so blessed to see how we came around Mom and fought for her and loved her–just as she loved each of us so many times over many years. Christ was honored.
I know we will see Mom again, more beautiful than ever some day. I miss her. We all do. A new journey of grieving has begun. Walking with Dad is now the focus as we celebrate Mom’s life.
We will be hosting a funeral service, really a celebration of Mom’s life, love, and faith, on Friday, July 17th in Elgin at New Covenant Fellowship Church, the church Dad and Mom served the Lord in ministry for decades. We will post more details on CaringBridge in the days to come.
Thank you for your love and prayers for our family. If you have a desire to encourage our family or have any other questions, I would invite you to contact Pastor Phil (two24-200-5001) and Cathy Carter.
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