Karen Ellen Smith

Please join us in remembering the life of Karen, whose love and presence will always remain with us.

Obituary

Karen Ellen (Boniface) Smith, 83, died peacefully on October 12, 2026, in Danville, California, surrounded by family.
Karen was born in Hattiesburg, MS to Wayne Henry and Verna Harriet Boniface and grew up in Webster, New York. She attended Potsdam College in upstate New York and began her career as an elementary school teacher after graduation.
Karen and her husband, Gary, married and moved across the country from New York to San Ramon, California, in 1981. There she resumed teaching in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and taught elementary school for more than 20 years, most of those years at Montevideo Elementary. She had a passion for teaching and loved her students dearly. Karen stayed in touch with many of her students long after they left her classroom, and in some cases went on to teach their children. After retiring, she took care of her grandsons, Connor and Carson, during the workday until they were old enough to drive.

Her most cherished role was being “Grandma K” to her grandchildren. She was in the stands and the audience for countless football games, theater productions, and everything in between, and she went above and beyond to make every birthday and holiday special. Holidays at Grandma’s house were always magical.

If you were ever lucky enough to be in Karen’s life, you probably have a card from her. She never missed sending a card for a birthday, an anniversary, or a holiday, Thanksgiving included, and the people she loved could count on her card arriving right on time or probably early, year after year.

Karen is survived by her husband, Gary L. Smith; her children Amy MacKay Friedman (Drew) and Kristi MacKay Sullivan-Cheney (Andy); her stepchildren, Jeff Smith (Sandy) and Jodi Krueger; and her nine grandchildren: Jenna and Lauren Friedman, Connor and Carson Sullivan, Bradley, Jeffrey, and Sarah Smith, and Kyla and Ryan Krueger. She is also survived by her brother, James Boniface.
A celebration of life will be held at Crown Canyon Country Club in Danville, CA on December 2nd at 3:00 p.m- 6:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation (glioblastomafoundation.org).

The passing of Karen leaves a space that cannot be filled. Yet the memories, lessons, and moments shared will continue to live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate to know Karen.

Karen will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

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