Karen Foran Dempsey, 54

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FRAMINGHAM – “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

Karen Foran Dempsey, was just that to her family, the community of Framingham, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and beyond. Sadly, Karen died suddenly at the age of 54 on December 24, 2020.

Born and raised in Framingham. Karen spent her entire life advocating for equality for those with disabilities. She was a graduate of Marian High School in 1985, and Regis College in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and communications.

A member of Framingham Town Meeting for nearly two decades, she co-founded Framingham’s Disability Commission in 2002 and served as its chair until 2019 when she was elected to the Framingham School Committee. Karen also served on the Consumer Advisory Committee of the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority and the MetroWest RIDE Service.

She also was a clinical instructor at Tufts University School of Medicine, and worked as a disability consultant.

Family first for the Foran Dempsey clan, and Karen is survived by her husband Mark, her twin sons William and Joseph, her mother Anne Foran, her siblings, her identical twin sister, Kathy Foran & her husband  Vinny Ubaldino, Janet Leombruno & her husband John, and Edward Foran & his wife Susan, her brother-in-law Steven Dempsey & his wife Jennifer, her nieces and nephews, Anthony, Nicholas, Alexandra, and Raymond Bertone, and countless lifelong friends. Karen was predeceased by her dear father Edward Foran.

Considering current health restrictions, Karen’s family will honor and remember her life with private services. A celebration of her life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances in her name may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org.

Arrangements by the McCarthy, McKinney & Lawler Funeral Home of Framingham. 

For online tributes, or to share a memory with Karen’s family, kindly visit www.mccarthyfh.com